OFFICE OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Executive Report Fall 2015

Dale R. Hoyt, Ed.D.Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Archdiocese of Hartford

Phone Number: 860-242-5573; Web: catholicschoolct.orgEmail: dale.hoyt@aohct.org

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The vision for Catholic schools in theArchdiocese of Hartford is to cultivate anenvironment of spiritual and academicgrowth by integrating the Catholicintellectual tradition and faith throughoutthe educational process. This is achieved bythe promotion of Gospel truths, faith inaction for social justice, and academicexcellence; all of which provide studentswith a moral compass, as well as the abilityto think critically and creatively in an ever-changing, diverse society.

The promise we make to families providesthe foundation for all that occurs in theCatholic school. Our promise statementscan be summarized as follows:

• Students will encounter the living God.

• Students will search for meaning, knowledge and truth.

• Students will be formed in our faith.

• Educational excellence will be encouraged.

• Development of the whole person will be achieved.

• Students will graduate as productive, virtuous citizens and church leaders.

These fundamental promises are thereasons parents and guardians can trust inthe educational apostolate of our Catholicfaith. Brendan Carroll, a 2015 Catholic highschool graduate, conveyed this message inhis valedictory address. “Our generation isone that is constantly searching. Whether itis Google, Bing, Yahoo!, or Siri, searchengines are frequently being used to findrandom pieces of information or answer alltypes of crazy questions. Tonight I am hereto tell you to stop searching. Instead,trust…Trust in the Lord. He will guide youalong your path. Trust in what you havelearned” in the Catholic school.

Brendan’s address echoes the words ofJesus to the Apostle Thomas: blessed arethose who have not seen and still believe.As students come to believe in God and inself, they develop invaluable principles ofcourage, self-confidence, the desire toserve others, and to make a positive impacton the world.

Graduates of Catholic elementary andsecondary schools have been given a strongfoundation in the faith and are academicallyprepared to continue their education. Wecertainly can boast of our excellent scoreson standardized tests or the percentage ofseniors graduating and attending well-regarded colleges and universities.

We can delight in how students in theelementary and secondary schools

At the beginning of each school year, the Executive Report is published so thatstakeholders have an understanding of the central services offered by the Officeof Catholic Schools (OCS).

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communicate effectively, work bothindependently and collaboratively, usetechnology as an integral tool for learning,make age appropriate moral choices thatlead to good decision making, and becomecompassionate young people.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese ofHartford truly offer students an educationfor a lifetime, producing life-long learnerswho go on to make important contributionsto society and who help to fashion a morehumane and just world. At Catholic schools,students are encouraged to believe – learn– excel!

Today, the Archdiocese educates over14,000 students from early childhoodthrough 12th grade. In recent years,enrollment has declined, in large part dueto the changing demographics of ourArchdiocese, the difficult economicenvironment in Connecticut, the lack ofresources from the state and federalgovernments, the challenging educationmarket, and the societal trends ofsecularism. As we witness fewer Catholicsin pews on Sunday, we also experience adecrease in the Catholic schools.

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535,000

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560,000

565,000

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580,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

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Academic Year

Public School Enrollment (Pre-K-12)

2003-2013

- 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000

10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000 22,000 24,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

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Catholic School Enrollment (Pre-K-12)

2003-2013

The consistent decline in school-agedchildren reflects that of the public schoolsin Connecticut. Given the projected declinein enrollment for public schools, it is safe toassume that if nothing is done, Catholicschool enrollment will also continue todecline.

Enrollment data gives us a clear mandatefor decision making; as Connecticut publicschools look at ways to consolidate andreorganize, so too must we, if we expect tothrive in the future.

Our Catholic school administratorsprepare to start the 2015-2016school year with hope for manymore smiling faces, and a warmwelcome to all returning students.

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Mission Formation & Evangelization

Assess the Religion Curriculum Standards:The religion curriculum will be assessed inschools by using the Assessment forChildren/Youth Religious Education (ACRE)from the National Catholic EducationalAssociation. The OCS, in collaboration withschool administrators, will review theresults of ACRE and develop plans foraddressing any areas of relativeweaknesses.

Ensure strong faith formation foreducators: The OCS will provide resourcesto schools that will support local faithformation on the virtue of mercy. The OCSwill provide opportunities for Catholicschool educators to engage in conversationregarding Pope Francis’ vision of a mercifulChurch.

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Engage in outreach to school families: TheOCS will assist schools to identify ways tobetter engage Catholic parents in anunderstanding of the religion curriculum,the importance of the sacraments, and theneed to reinforce the faith in the home life.The OCS will engage in conversation withrepresentatives from Home Schoolingnetworks to explore opportunities forcollaboration.

Each year the OCS develops action plansaligned with 20†20 Vision: An Eye on OurFuture to serve and support the Catholicschools as they cultivate excellence,transformational growth, and continuedviability. Moreover, the OCS will becollaborating with the Office of PastoralPlanning regarding the positioning ofCatholic schools throughout theArchdiocese. Demographics, facilities,financing, leadership, and governancerequire new approaches for sustainingCatholic schools.

During the 2015-2016 school year the OCSwill provide the following measurableaction strategies to advance the mission ofCatholic school education.

In 2013, the OCS published a ministerialplan for Catholic schools, 20†20 Vision: AnEye on Our Future. The document containsdomains, standards and benchmarks thatoffer an overarching schema to ensureexcellence in Catholic education. Thisministerial plan identifies critical issuesthrough conducted studies and bestpractices for the ministry of Catholicschools to remain relevant and true to itsmission. The standards and benchmarksare measurable and attainable, and providestrategies to achieve success.

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Leadership and Governance

Enhance training and professional development of school leaders: The OCS will establish aleadership center that will provide focus training to new and promising candidates to developa range of skills necessary for effective leadership in the Archdiocese of Hartford. The OCS willprovide training for developing “leadership teams” within the local schools.

Design a Home and School Leadership Manual: The OCS, with support from the Principals’Advisory Council for Elementary (PACE) schools and high school chief administrators, willdesign a manual on the purpose, structure, and authority of the Home and School Associationfor implementation in 2016-2017 school year.

Revise secondary performance appraisal process: The OCS, with input from the chiefadministrators, will adapt the elementary performance appraisal to meet the needs of highschool administrators. The revised performance appraisal will be implemented in the spring of2016.

Teaching and Learning

Enhance Teaching and Learning: The OCS will research, develop, and provide guidance to thelocal schools on educational programs that will address various learning styles. The OCS willassist schools on the use of data to drive differentiated instruction in the study ofmathematics.

The OCS will provide a social media platform to share ideas about teaching and learning withtechnology. The OCS will provide onsite visits to reinforce the school’s use of the reflectionrubrics and action plans regarding 20†20 Vision: An Eye on Our Future, specifically on thedomain excellence in teaching and learning.

Extend and improve student support services: The OCS, in collaboration with the localelementary school administrators, will establish an Archdiocesan Interscholastic AthleticLeague that will serve as support and guidance for basketball.

Enhance training and professional development for teachers: The OCS will coordinate andencourage training and professional development opportunities for educators with a focus onteaching and learning with technology. The OCS will provide professional development toeducators on the culture of learning with an emphasis on the teaching of mathematics.

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Strengthen marketing and enrollmentinitiatives: The OCS will collaborate with itsmarketing firm to design and directmarketing materials to highlight the cultureof learning. The OCS will workcollaboratively on site with local schoolteams to strengthen enrollmentmanagement, when enrollment indicatescontinuous decline. The OCS will providetraining for the implementation of themarketing templates to assist local schoolefforts in the recruitment and retention ofstudents.

The Archdiocesan School Board, under theleadership of Robert O’Hara, Esq., has takenon the responsibilities of visiting localschool boards to assist in boarddevelopment, cultivating pastorrelationships, researching merit-basedcompensation for educators, and engagingin dialogue with the Office of PastoralPlanning as it relates to Catholic schools.

We are blessed that the benefactors andparishioners who through the Archbishop’sAnnual Appeal and the Catholic SchoolSupport Program, offer funding for tuitionscholarships. In addition, to date theFoundation for the Advancement ofCatholic Schools has committed to provide268 scholarships totaling $332,051 tofamilies in need who choose a Catholicschool education, during the 2015-2016school year.

Catholic schools play a vital role in the lifeof the Church and the community.Therefore, we are committed to extendingthis legacy commitment to the faith andacademic excellence in the long-terminterest of students and their families. Everyeffort will be made in collaboration with thelocal leadership teams to ensure thatCatholic schools are fiscally strong,sustainable, affordable, accessible, andaccountable to students today and in thefuture. Please learn more about Catholicschools in the Archdiocese of Hartford byvisiting our website atwww.catholicschoolsct.org.

Operational Vitality

Clarify parish school staff guidelines: TheOCS will develop a matrix for sustainableschool staffing. The OCS will review currentschool staffing and make recommendationsfor optimal staffing, if needed.

Foster more equitable support for schoolsacross the Archdiocesan network: The OCSwill make recommendations for policieswithin the Archdiocese, so that existing andnew sources of funds to support theschools are identified within all parishes,and thereby reflect the benefits of Catholiceducation.

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Dale R. Hoyt, Ed.D., Superintendent of Catholic Schools dale.hoyt@aohct.org Ext. 2660Essential Responsibilities: Mission Formation and Evangelization of Schools; Operational Vitality of Schools; Civicand Church Community Relations; Implementation of 20†20 Vision: An Eye on Our Future; Policies and Proceduresfor Catholic Schools; Chair, Principals' Advisory Council for Elementary; Executive Secretary, Archdiocesan SchoolBoard; Officer, Archdiocesan High School Corporations, Trustee, Connecticut Federation of Catholic SchoolParents; Trustee, Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools

Maria Maynard, Deputy Superintendent of Catholic Schoolsmaria.maynard@aohct.org Ext. 2658Essential Responsibilities: School Leadership; School Board Leadership Development and Training; Home andSchool Association Leadership Development and Training; School Concerns; Member, Archdiocesan High SchoolBoards

Valerie Mara, Assistant Superintendent of Academicsvalerie.mara@aohct.org Ext. 2656Essential Responsibilities: Teacher Recruitment, Screening, Professional Development, and Certification;Curriculum Design and Development; Assessments & Test Data Analysis; Teacher Coaching and Mentoring;Technology Integration, Chair, Curriculum Commission

Anne Clubb, Director of Enrollment Management and Marketinganne.clubb@aohct.org Ext. 2651Essential Responsibilities: Marketing Support to Drive Enrollment; Student Recruitment and Retention Programs;International Students (SEVIS); Communication Planning and Tools

Sr. Mary Kolbe Heffern, FSE, Director of Faith Formationsr.mary.kolbe.heffern@aohct.org Ext. 2652Essential Responsibilities: Certification of Adult Faith Formation; Catholic Educators Faith Formation Conference;Resource for Adult Faith Education Programs; Resource for Religious Curricular Programs

Laura McCaffrey, Director of School Support and Academic Serviceslaura.mccaffrey@aohct.org Ext. 2664Essential Responsibilities: Prompting Advancement Initiatives; HOPES Dinner; Elementary & Secondary Parish Collections; Government Programs; Technology Education and Infrastructure

Kenneth Przysiecki, CPA, Director of School Financeskenneth.przysiecki@aohct.org Ext. 2654Essential Responsibilities: Accounting Assistance; Budget Development and Management Support; Long RangeFinancial Planning Support; Asbestos Compliance

Mark Monnerat, Commissioner of Archdiocesan Interscholastic Athletic League mark.monnerat@aohct.org

Support Staff:

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS STAFF860.242.5573

Gayle Keene gayle.keene@aohct.org Ext. 2660

Diane Newell diane.newell@aohct.org Ext. 2657

Leslie Nelson leslie.nelson@aohct.org Ext. 2659

Joanne Reilly joanne.reilly@aohct.org Ext. 2653

Linda Serafin linda.serafin@aohct.org Ext. 2650

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PRINCIPALS’ ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR ELEMENTARY

The Principals’ Advisory Council for Elementary (PACE) shall achieve its purpose by acting asa channel of communication to and from the principals and the Office of Catholic Schools.

Elected Principal Representatives

• Patricia Kanute, St. James School, Manchester• Patricia Martin, St. Gabriel School, Windsor• Gail Kingston, Ed.D., St. Gabriel School, Milford• Michael J. Votto, St. Aedan and St. Brendan School, New Haven• Jo-Anne Gauger, St. Peter/St. Francis of Assisi School, Torrington• John Salatto, Ed.D., St. Francis – St. Hedwig School, Naugatuck

Appointed Principal Representatives

• Marie Gannatti, St. Mary School, Simsbury• Maria Testa, St. Stephen School, Hamden• Jack Tavares, Jr., Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School

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ARCHDIOCESAN SCHOOL BOARD

Robert J. O’Hara, Esq.Chair

(Simsbury)

Benjamin T. Peters, Ph.D. Vice Chair

(West Hartford)

Recognized in 2008 as anOUTSTANDING BOARD

by the National CatholicEducational Association

In conjunction with the Office of Catholic Schools, the mission of the Archdiocesan SchoolBoard is to further the advancement of excellence in Catholic education for students in theArchdiocese of Hartford by providing leadership, direction, and support to the Archbishopand the Superintendent of Catholic Schools.

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Mark A. Adams (Oxford) Reverend Michael A. Santiago (East Hartford)

Theresa N. Becker (Farmington) James P. Thomas (Cheshire)

Amy F. Boucher (West Hartford) Carol Y. Thorney (Windsor)

Kenneth L. Boudreau (Farmington) Michael S. Tosatti (Westbrook)

Constance J. Cyr (Meriden) Leon Vaccarelli (Waterbury)

Gwynne C. Deveau (Bloomfield) Reverend Michael G. Whyte (West Simsbury)

Monsignor Thomas J. Ginty (Forestville)

Current Members:

STAY CONNECTED

The OCS strives to keep our constituentsinformed. In doing so, we publish thefollowing:

• Monthly eNewsletter, Vision• Mid-Points for Administrators • Back to School edition in The

Catholic Transcript• Annual Executive Report • Annual Report• Continuous marketing of Catholic

schools via cable television, English and Hispanic radio, online advertising, website promotion

Visit our website, catholicschoolsct.org

Friend us on Facebook

Follow Dale R. Hoyt, Ed.D. on Twitterat twitter.com/@drhoytOCS

SCHOOL ASSESSMENT

Each year schools are assessed a fee in January topartially defray the costs of the services sponsoredby the OCS (Policy 1.216, Handbook of Policies andProcedures for Catholic Schools). The fees arebased on data from the October annual census.These fees support the following programs and/orservices, but are not limited to:

• Administrators meetings and recognition events;

• Curriculum, Enrollment Management/Marketing, Finance, and School Board meetings, workshops, and webinars;

• Catholic Educators Faith Formation Conference;

• University of Dayton and the University of Notre Dame, Adult Faith Formation dues;

• Catholic Educators Curriculum Conference (excluding Title Funds);

• Asbestos training, inspection, and management;

• Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents dues;

• Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) dues;• New Teacher Orientation Days; • Publication and communication resources for

administrators and teachers; and• NCEA Information for Growth: Assessment

Children/Youth Religious Education (IFG: ACRE) Testing (for 2015).

The OCS webinars will cover trending andneed-to-know topics relevant to Catholicschooling and are aligned with 20†20Vision: An Eye on Our Future.

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