Click here for letter from Superintendent of Catholic Schools
The Four Focus Areas
Click on one of the focus areas below to learn more.
1 - Catholic Identity and Academic Excellence - Supporting our teachers includes identifying how our faith can be intentionally and effectively intertwined throughout all subject areas. We will update our religious education (theology) standards and gather best instructional practices in core educational content areas.
2 -Marketing & Enrollment - Few of our schools have sufficient staffing to fully carry out strategic and intentional enrollment and marketing campaigns. The new marketing position will be tasked with facilitating marketing and enrollment. We hope that this resource will allow our principals to concentrate on learning and instructional goals.
3 - Financial Vitality - We are conducting a review of current funding models with the goal of helping all schools become increasingly self-sustainable, while keeping tuition at an appropriate level. We will assess teacher, administrative, and support staff salaries, wages, incentives, and benefits and make recommendations to support the stability of Catholic schools and just compensation according to Catholic ethical teachings. Reviewing the physical operations, existing funding sources, creating new sources of revenue, and investing funds in an intentional and strategic manner are all within the scope of our plan. We have conducted an initial review of our schools’ aspirations and consolidated our findings in a financial overview we call Investment in Excellence. This document will evolve as we gather information and will aid us in identifying priorities across the diocese and within individual schools.
4 - People and Governance - This monumental effort has, to the best of our collective knowledge, not been set forth in the Diocese of Saginaw. A draft strategic plan has been created. In the near future, we will seek feedback to help us select a course both compelling and measured. Structurally, a formal council will support the Office of Catholic schools in carrying out the objectives of this initiative to work in collaboration with the existing school boards and committees. Bylaws are currently being developed to guide this council moving forward. A significant part of this component of people and governance is retaining and recruiting effective teachers, administrators, and school staff. This aspect of the plan includes, in part, providing resources to our schools to support and enhance the ongoing professional development of school staff.
Meet the Team
The Our Catholic Schools: Centered in Christ, Committed to Excellence committee includes (front) Deb Bierlein, Chief Financial Officer (DOS); Michael Cavanaugh, Our Lady of Lake Huron Principal, Harbor Beach; Mary Kay Yonker, Sacred Heart Academy Principal, Mount Pleasant; Bishop Robert Gruss; Lisa Seeley, St. Mary Principal, Alma; Sister Mary Judith O'Brien, Chancellor (DOS); (back) Pete Shaheen, Nouvel Catholic Central Board of Trustees, Saginaw; Bob Looby, Committee Chair and Advisory Member of Diocesan Finance Council; Patrick Van Sumeren, All Saints Central Board Chair, Bay City; Cormac Lynn, Superintendent of Catholic Schools (DOS); Katy Pham, Office of Catholic Schools (DOS); Erin Looby Carlson, Director of Communications (DOS); Deacon Gary Patelski, Diocesan Finance Council and Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan Board Member; and Father Rick Bokinskie, St. Thomas Aquinas Pastor, Saginaw. Not pictured are Deacon Rick Warner, Nativity of the Lord Parish, Alma; Dick Dolinski, Committee Member; and Joe Stong, Director of Stewardship and Development (DOS).
Our Diocese has 12 schools, including three high schools in which we educate nearly 2,025 children.
These schools are in both rural and suburban areas. Our Catholic schools have maintained an excellence in teaching since 1868. Nearly 100 percent of our students go on to graduate from college. Many of our Catholic school graduates are presently serving in vital community service positions. Our Diocesan Catholic schools foster healthy vocations to the priesthood, religious life and to Christ-centered marriage and single life.
Our Catholic Schools: Centered in Christ, Committed to Excellence Dear Jesus, Lord and Savior, our greatest teacher. We ask you to accompany us on our journey in Catholic education. Breathe the Spirit into your plans for us, and give us courage to be steadfast. Be the source of wisdom in our actions and decisions, and provide the necessary resources for our schools to spread your message of eternal life. Be with our students and the families who sacrifice to provide their children with a Catholic education. Be with our staff and faculty; bless them for their dedication and commitment to this essential ministry. Remind us at all times that education in the Faith is essential to forming disciples who will evangelize and transform our families and communities. Our Lady of the Assumption, patroness of our diocese, pray for us. Amen.
