Synergy bolsters Catholic universities, K-12 schools in Baltimore archdiocese By Erik Zygmont
[email protected] Twitter: @ReviewErik A pleasant surprise for parents sending their children to Catholic schools with eyes toward a quality college education: Their children are already benefitting from Catholic universities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Collaboratively and independently, Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg have established mutually beneficial partnerships with the Catholic schools in the archdiocese. In collaboration, the three institutions offer the Principals Leadership Institute of Advanced Study, a certificate program for principals and assistant principals selected by the archdiocese to participate. Modules are held at all three universities, focusing on a range of leadership aspects, from the practical (Finance and Marketing: Beyond the Chocolate Bar) to the spiritual (The Role of the Catholic Leader: The Spirit of Leadership). A more in-depth look at the commitments of the three Catholic universities follows. Mount St. Mary’s University Founded in 2009 at the behest of Thomas Powell, then-president of the Mount and now president of St. John’s Catholic Prep in Buckeystown, the Center for Catholic School Excellence offers professional development and consulting services for faculty and administrators of Catholic schools. “We go to schools and do professional development, and sometimes they come here,” explained Elizabeth Monahan, director of the Mount’s master’s degree in education programs as well as the university’s Center for Catholic School Excellence (CCSE). The CCSE advisory board, which includes Dr. Barbara McGraw Edmondson, archdiocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, meets annually to discuss the needs of Catholic schools in the area surrounding the Mount.