At the all-principal meeting, school leaders are optimistic about an academic year further removed from pandemic restrictions.
Diocesan principals gathered Aug. 9 with leadership from the Office of Catholic Schools to learn about new strategies and tools the diocese is implementing to usher in a new academic year they said feels refreshingly more normal than the past two.
“There is a great sense of hopefulness about this year,” said Superintendent Joseph E. Vorbach. While the presence of COVID-19 lingers and student safety and health remain a focus area, most observers would say the start of this academic year “looks pretty normal,” he added.
“We put the pandemic behind us,” said Denise Rutledge, principal of St. Joseph School in Herndon. “We spent two very long years shut down and isolated,” and now the school gets to bring back its full complement of classes, electives, lunchroom services and volunteer opportunities.
“We are looking for a revival,” she added. That goal fits right into one of the diocesan Golden Jubilee themes, which is “Renew,” she noted.
Rutledge said this year the cafeteria will be open, the milk service is back, masks are gone, volunteers are welcome in the building and clubs are returning — all in stark contrast to the previous two years. Only one part-time teacher vacancy remains at the 550-student school, she said.
Vorbach noted that, while some challenges including a tight labor market remain, principals have worked diligently through the summer to solve problems, including staffing vacancies. The pandemic-related shutdowns of public schools brought Arlington diocesan schools a record surge in enrollment of almost 10 percent over the past two years, Vorbach said.
A brief survey of diocesan principals showed their hiring needs ranked second on a list of most pressing concerns. The physical safety of their school buildings came first and third was the welcoming of new teachers and team building. Nearly 250 new teachers were expected the following day for their orientation, said Renee White, diocesan assistant superintendent of schools. This year’s group is the largest ever and almost double the usual number of new teachers, she added.
Safety is a priority, said David Conroy, principal of All Saints Catholic School in Manassas. “It’s going to be very important for me to communicate the value and priority that we place and have always placed on students’ safety and security,” he said. “We will be very consistent in implementing the protocols that we’ve established while continuing to refine our practice based on latest research.” But he said the challenges brought on by COVID have diminished and there is a sense of optimism going forward as “things are beginning to normalize within the schools.” All Saints has no teacher vacancy, he said. Parents and students are looking forward to the cafeteria reopening and the return of the volunteers, he added.
Diocesan leaders presented sessions on school safety and active shooter preparedness. The approximately 40 principals in attendance started the day in Ashburn with a morning Mass celebrated by Father James C. Hudgins, pastor of St. Theresa Church, and Father Jamie R. Workman, diocesan vicar general.
To promote teacher satisfaction, wellness and retention, the diocese hired an education consulting firm to conduct a teacher survey this October. Sarah Dugan, an educational consultant at Teach Learn Thrive, told the principals that the 15-minute survey will provide information about teacher needs and includes several questions about faith formation and how to support learners with special needs. “Schools are not cookie cutter,” said Dugan, a former teacher, and the survey will shed light on individual school needs while protecting teachers’ privacy.
Last year, it became obvious that there was a need for increased social and emotional support of students and teachers, said Diane Elliott, diocesan assistant superintendent. As a result, the diocese hired Armando Peri, a retired school psychologist and former Fairfax County Public Schools ombudsman. Peri will work part time and will visit schools. Additionally, the diocese has made the Catholic meditation and prayer app Hallow available to principals and teachers.
“We want to be there for our teachers. We want to be there for our kids. We want to keep an eye on how everyone is doing and be as supportive as possible,” said Vorbach.
“Our Catholic schools are open. We are eagerly looking forward to another school year,” he said. “We remain as focused on our Catholic mission as we’ve ever been, and we are excited about those possibilities.”
Chapman is a freelancer in Alexandria.
