122 Catholic educational leadership

In this episode, Pamela talks to Dan Guernsey about catholic educational leadership. He explains: How do current leaders in Catholic schools experience this tension between managerial demands (budgets, staffing, curriculum) and the spiritual vocation of leadership? What practices or supports are needed to help leaders live into their vocation more fully? The importance of spiritual formation—in prayer, sacramental life, etc.—is repeatedly highlighted as essential to maintaining a strong Catholic identity in schools. In what ways are schools/dioceses currently providing for the spiritual formation of administrators and leaders? What barriers exist to implementing deeper spiritual formation, and how can they be overcome? What components should a professional formation program for Catholic educational leaders include, to ensure both fidelity to Church teaching and effective leadership? How might such programs be scaled or made accessible in dioceses with fewer resources? How can leaders ensure that policies, curriculum choices, staff hiring, and school culture all align with the mission of integral formation? Are there practices you’ve seen where the identity seems strong, or conversely, where it is weak or compromised? In what ways can church authorities better support the lay leaders entrusted with carrying forward the Church’s mission in schools?