Uniting for Growth: Catholic Education Commission

“Our Catholic schools are a gem, but they are also fragile. Forming disciples of Jesus Christ is a fundamental priority and mission for the Diocese, and one that our Catholic schools accomplish. This commission of government, business and educational leaders, all of whom are passionate about the value of Catholic education, will make an external review of the overall direction and sustainability of our system of Catholic schools, and make recommendations on what changes should be considered to strengthen them,” said Bishop Senior.

The development of the commission is in recognition of both the commitment to Catholic education in our Diocese and the challenging landscape our Catholic schools face. The members will review and make recommendations on how to sustain the ministry of Catholic School education in the Diocese, for both short and long-term success.

“Every day, I see evidence of the passion for Catholic schools in our Diocese,” said Daniel Breen, Secretary for Education. “This commission springs from this appreciation for Catholic education and seeks to honor it by helping to strengthen our schools for the future.  I am grateful to Bishop Senior for his true commitment to our schools, and I am eager to see the fruit of this commission’s work.”

The commission members include:

• Frank Ryan, Chair; former Pennsylvania State Representative
• Warren Hudak, PA Commission on Education and Economic Competitiveness and NFIB
• Rachel Langan, Senior Education Policy Analyst, Commonwealth Foundation
• Dave LaTorre, La Torre Communications
• Jeff Merritt, former chair of York Catholic Middle and High School Board of Directors and of the PSU Harrisburg Board of Advisers
• Lisette Rivera, Coordinator, School District of Lancaster Families in Transition Program; member of the Catholic Education Strategic Visioning committee
• Father Kyle Sahd, Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, York
• Father Alfred Sceski, Pastor, Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Hershey
• David Schankweiler, Interim President, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
• Paul Schemel, Esq., DSS Law; former Pennsylvania State Representative
• Scott Sikorski, Director of Legislative Affairs, Senate of Pennsylvania
• Sister Rita Smith, SSJ, Principal, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School, Harrisburg
• Nga Vu, Penn Medicine Lancaster General; member of the Catholic Education Strategic Visioning committee
• Eric Zeglen, Executive Director of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, Shippensburg University; member of the Catholic Education Strategic Visioning committee

The commission will hold its initial meeting this summer and work during the coming academic year to develop recommendations for the Catholic schools in the Diocese.

The commission will continue the work started in July 2021 with the Christ Before Me strategic visioning process. This process was the first step in charting a sustainable, healthy future for Catholic education in the Diocese. This vision committee presented five key themes for the future success of our schools: discipleship, innovation, collaboration, support and engagement. With the vision part of the work complete, the commission will take these results and use them as a starting point in developing their recommendations.

“I thank all the members of the commission, who are volunteering their time to this important work,” added Bishop Senior. “I have confidence that the work of this commission will be a positive step forward in ensuring Catholic education has a secure future in the Diocese.”

Since 1868, the Catholic schools in the Diocese have educated thousands of students in faith and academics. Today, we have nearly 10,000 students and 1,000 teachers and staff in the Diocese’s 33 Catholic schools (27 elementary and six secondary). The Diocesan Catholic high school students typically have a graduation rate over 98% and annually earn over $40 million in potential scholarship monies.

To learn more about Catholic education in the Diocese of Harrisburg or to find a Catholic school close to you, visit www.GoCatholicSchools.org.