Alliance for Catholic Education
Description
**The Catholic Schools and Democracy Summit is a four-session virtual convening offered twice in summer 2025. Choose to participate EITHER June 23-26 OR July 21-24 daily from 3-4:30 ET.**
Democracy in the United States is strengthened through the many important and distinctive contributions made by Catholic schools. The Catholic Schools and Democracy Summit brings Catholic school educators, academic experts, and other stakeholders together to discuss critical issues and generate key insights that will contribute to the development of programs and scholarship to enhance how Catholic schools support democracy.
Summit Goals
By the completion of the summit, participants will:
- Be able to describe the distinctive contributions Catholic schools make to democracy in the United States.
- Articulate the distinctive characteristics of Christian citizens.
- Recognize the means available for forming Christian citizens in the classroom and school and make plans for leveraging these more powerfully.
- Explore the metrics that might be used to gauge the success of efforts by Catholic school educators.
- Recognize how to create a school culture where efforts to prepare Christian citizens are more efficacious.
How to Participate
Choose to participate in one of two cohort groups meeting either:
- Cohort 1: Monday, June 23- Thursday, June -26 daily from 3:00- 4:30 ET
- Cohort 2: Monday, July 21- Thursday, July 24 daily from 3:00- 4:30 ET
Participation involves four 90-minute live Zoom sessions during which you will learn from experts and interact in breakout rooms with other participants. A Canvas website (available from June 16-August 1) links you to the Zoom sessions and extends your learning beyond them with access to recorded expert presentations, curated readings, and learning activities.
Participants wishing to receive a Confirmation of Participation for 12 contact/professional development hours will need to participate in all four Zoom sessions and engage in some brief learning activities (e.g., discussion posts or written reflections) on the Canvas site. More details will be provided in Canvas or contact step@nd.edu.
Summit Sessions
Session 1
(Either Monday, June 23 or Monday, July 21 3:00-4:30 ET)
Questions to Explore: What contributions do schools make to democracy? What is unique about those made by Catholic schools? What special challenges do Catholic schools face in preparing citizens? What additional support do schools and personnel need?
Session Presenters: Dr. Melissa Moschella, Philosophy, McGrath Institute, University of Notre Dame, Dr. John McGreevy, History & Charles and Jill Fischer Provost of the University of Notre Dame
Additional Presenters on Canvas: Dr. Daniel Cho, Education, Otterbein University, Dr. David Sikkink, Sociology, University of Notre Dame
Session 2
(Either Tuesday, June 24 or Tuesday, July 22 3:00-4:30 ET)
Questions to Explore: Catholic schools prepare Christian citizens. What are their characteristics? What is the vision for graduates as citizens? What metrics can Catholic schools use to understand their efficacy in preparing citizens? How might they follow graduates and understand their citizenship?
Session Presenters: Dr. Catherine Cavadini, Theology, University of Notre Dame & Dr. David Cloutier, Theology, University of Notre Dame
Additional Presenters on Canvas: Dr. John Cavadini, McGrath-Cavadini Director, McGrath Institute, University of Notre Dame, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Diocese of Fort Wayne- South Bend, Dr. Kevin Baxter, Educational Leadership, Remick Leadership Program, University of Notre Dame, Erika Wickstrom, Superintendent, Diocese of Orlando, Frank O’Linn, Superintendent, Diocese of Cleveland, Leticia Oseguera, Superintendent, Diocese of San Diego
Session 3
(Either Wednesday, June 25 or Wednesday, July 23 3:00-4:30 ET)
Questions to Explore: How are Christian citizens prepared through experiences in the classroom? How do these experiences make a distinctive contribution to forming/educating democratic citizens? How might each of these types of experiences be better developed and leveraged?
Session Presenters: Dr. Meghan Fagan, Education, ACE Teaching Fellows, University of Notre Dame, Jessica Keating Floyd, Program Director, Notre Dame Office of Life and Human Dignity, Sr. Mary Agnes Grieffendorf, Vice Principal, St. Gertrude School, Dr. Clare Kilbane, Education, McGrath Institute, University of Notre Dame, Christina Leblang, Associate Program Director, Notre Dame Office of Life and Human Dignity, Dr. Monica Kowalski, Associate Director of Program Evaluation and Research, Institute for Educational Initiatives, Dr. Kati Macaluso, Academic Director ACE Teaching Fellows, Vicki Petrella, Teacher (Retired) St. James the Less Catholic School
Session 4
(Either Thursday, June 26 or Thursday, July 24 3:00-4:30 ET)
Questions to Explore: How are Christian Citizens formed through non-classroom aspects of the school? What possibilities and challenges exist with adult formation and in creating a culture where efforts to prepare democratic citizens are more efficacious?
Session Presenters: Dr. Kevin Baxter, Educational Leadership, Remick Leadership Program, University of Notre Dame, Faustin Weber, Principal, Joyce Tompsett, Teacher, Prince of Peace Catholic School, Dr. David Campbell, Director Democracy Initiative, Political Science, University of Notre Dame
Course Completion
An electronic confirmation of completion awarding 12 contact hours will be available in for Summit participants who complete all participation requirements.