Publications
Catholic School Superintendent Playbook: A Resource for New Diocesan Superintendents
Like many system-level leaders, you may be moving from a school environment where you are a decision-maker to a world where you are a coach, planner, connector, cheerleader, teammate, and occasionally an EMT! Or perhaps you are already in the central office, but moving into a new leadership role. Whatever professional path you have taken to the superintendency, you have accepted a role akin to the commissioner of the baseball league; you want to help ALL the teams win!
In an effort to prepare you for this new role, current superintendents and leaders of the Boston College / Catapult Learning superintendent professional learning community have put together this playbook which contains: 1) General discussion topics, 2) Topics by key relationship, and 3) Case studies.
Ministry with Young Hispanic Catholics: Towards a Recipe for Growth and Success
As the number of young Hispanic Catholics grows in every corner of the country, Catholic structures and organizations have been rather slow adjusting to that presence. Are our current structures and organizations for ministry with young Catholics aware, prepared and willing to adjust to meet the spiritual needs of Hispanic young people? Are Catholics ready to create, when necessary, and support new structures and organizations that have the wisdom and commitment to work with Hispanic youth and young adults?
Dr. Hosffman Ospino of the School of Theology and Ministry and his research support team respond to these questions in this report — Ministry with Young Hispanic Catholic: Towards a Recipe for Growth and Success. A Summary Report of Initial Findings from the National Study of Catholic Organizations Serving Hispanic Youth.
Cultivating Talent: A Summary Report of Findings from the National Study Examining Pathways to Increase the Presence of Hispanic Teachers and Leaders in Catholic Schools
In response to the present need to ensure equitable access, representation, and educational outcomes for Hispanic students, families, and educators, our research team at Boston College, led by Dr. Hosffman Ospino of the School of Theology and Ministry and Dr. Melodie Wyttenbach of the Roche Center for Catholic Education, conducted a comprehensive study of Hispanic leaders and teachers in Catholic schools in the United States. Cultivating Talent: Hispanic Educators in Catholic Schools details the context, framework, process, findings, and results of this groundbreaking overview of an important sector of the Catholic education workforce.
Catholic Schools in an Increasingly Hispanic Church
The Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education (Roche Center) and the School of Theology and Ministry released the Catholic Schools in an Increasingly Hispanic Church report in February 2016, a summary of findings from the National Survey of Catholic Schools Serving Hispanic Families.
This groundbreaking report offers important findings and analysis based on the first study ever of Catholic schools serving Hispanic families. At a time in which the Church is becoming increasingly Hispanic, the report calls for Catholic education and ministry leaders to intentionally engage Hispanic families and parishes with Hispanic ministry as partners to strengthen Catholic schools in their mission in the United States today.
Principal Investigators:
Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill, Ph.D., Former Executive Director of the Roche Center for Catholic Education, Boston College
Hosffman Ospino, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theology and Ministry, Boston College
The report builds on Dr. Ospino's earlier work in the National Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry.
National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools
The landmark 2012 publication of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools was the result of a multi-year collaboration between the Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education at Boston College and the Greeley Center for Catholic Education at Loyola University Chicago. Copyright ownership of this document was transferred in 2020 from these centers to the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA). This document articulates a series of standards and benchmarks in four key areas: Mission and Catholic Identity, Governance and Leadership, Academic Excellence, and Operational Vitality. Catholic educators are encouraged to use this as a resource, as it provides a measure of accountability for the excellence and rigor, faith, and nurturance that have been the hallmark of Catholic education. More information on the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools can currently be found at http://catholicschoolstandards.org.