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The Catalyst Program for Aspiring Catholic School Leaders exemplifies practices of high quality professional devleopment in that it is communal, ongoing, and reliant on effective mentorship. Aspiring leaders (protégés) participate under the mentorship of their principal or other Catholic school leader. Specifically:
Expectations of Protégés
Expectations of Protégés
Be faithful and on fire for Catholic education.
Identify a mentor who is willing to participate in the program. A mentor can be the school's principal or another leader in the school.
Meet with your mentor on a regular basis, such as 10 minutes per week.
Be committed to participate with the online cohort for the spring of 2025.
Complete managable reading assignments every few weeks.
Participate in online discussion about content.
Reflect prayerfully on how new learning helps with the leadership discernment process.
Attend presentations, live or recorded, by national experts on each domain of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools.
Complete a basic school improvement project that connects new learning with practice.
Expectations of Mentors
Expectations of Mentors
Be faithful and on fire for Catholic education.
Identify a protégé who is discerning a leadership ministry in Catholic education.
Meet with your protégé on a regular basis, such as 10 minutes per week.
Provide the protégé with the opportunity to take on some basic leadership tasks in the context of his or her work.
Support the protégé in completing a basic school improvement project.
Mentors are welcome to participate in the reading, online discussion, and reflection work that comprises the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much work is involved in the program?
The program is designed with the needs and schedule of a working teacher and their mentor in mind. Protégés can plan on engaging in the program for approximately 2 - 3 hours per week. Mentors are welcome to engage in the online learning components to the extent that they are able.
What kind of work does the protégé have to do?
Protégés learn about important issues in Catholic school leadership through the completion of four modules which are aligned with the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools. Each module includes an overview video from a program facilitator, some light reading, a discussion board prompt for online discussion, and an opportunity for written personal reflection. Each module also includes a 60-minute presentation from a national expert on Catholic school leadership issues, as well as 30 minutes of discussion.
Do I need to log in at specific times to do the work?
No. Most components can be completed asynchronously, on your own schedule and at times convenient to you. The only scheduled meetings are the presentations, which will be recorded and made available for anyone who is not able to attend live.
What kind of personal interaction will I have with the program facilitators?
Dr. Fussell and Dr. Hoyt will provide specific, individual feedback on all work submitted by participants. Drs. Fussell and Hoyt will facilitate group discussions after each module presentation, and they are always able to meet with participants one-on-one as needed.
Do I need to come to Creighton's campus to participate in the program?
No. The Catalyst Program for Aspiring Catholic School Leaders is offered completely online.
I am a mentor. Can I participate in the online learning too?
Absolutely! Mentors who participate in the online learning will earn the same completion certificate that protégés will earn. Mentor participation is encouraged, but not required.
Do I get college credit for completing this program? What do I get when I complete the program?
The Catalyst Program is a non-credit professional development program. When you complete the program, you will recieve a certificate of completion from Creighton University for 45 hours of professional development. Completers (protégés and mentors) can apply those hours as three experiential learning transfer credits in one of Creighton University's Catholic School Leadership programs.
How much does the program cost?
This program is funded by a generous grant from the Creighton University Catholic School Initiatives Endowment Fund and offered free of charge to aspiring Catholic school leaders and their mentors.
Do I need to purchase any books or materials for the program?
No. All program materials will be provided at no cost to participants.
I am a Catholic school principal, head of school, or (arch)diocesan superintendent, and I am interested in developing a stand-alone leadership development program for aspiring Catholic school leaders in my school or (arch)diocese. Can Creighton Unviersity help with me on that?
Absolutely! If you are interested in partnering with Creighton University to offer a stand-alone leadership development program like this in your school or (arch)diocese, you can contact Dr. Ron Fussell at ronaldfussell@creighton.edu for more information.
Beyond Catalyst
Beyond Catalyst
Participants who complete the Catalyst Program for Aspiring Catholic School Leaders will recieve a certificate of completion for 45 hours of professional development. Completers are eligible to continue their studies in a credit-bearing Catholic school leadership program, counting their Catalyst experience as three free tuition-free credits. Both protégés and mentors are eligible.
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