PROVIDENCE—Although only in his second week on the job, Dan Ferris, the new superintendent of diocesan schools, already has a firm grasp of their strengths and the challenges they face.
As the diocese prepares to join others across the nation in celebrating Catholic Schools Week, Ferris is looking forward to his role in helping to build on an already good thing.
“We have great schools and we really need to promote that,” said Ferris, in an interview with Rhode Island Catholic.
“Our schools are safe, the academics are strong and the children are learning the faith.”
Ferris said the schools of the diocese have much to be proud of, and should be promoting the good things happening in each of them to the larger community.
“Raising the profile of the Catholic schools is the key to their success,” said Ferris, who previously served as an assistant schools superintendent in the Diocese of Arlington, Va.
Ferris said his first priority is scheduling regular visits to the schools across the diocese, where he intends to talk to staff and really take stock of what they have to say.
He hopes to visit every school over the next four to five weeks.
So far, he has visited a half dozen schools.
During a visit to Woodlawn Catholic Regional School in Pawtucket Monday, three eighth grade students really made a positive impression on him.
They approached him during his visit, telling him how much they respected their teacher.
“They said while she was firm, and was a tough teacher, she was truly preparing them well for high school and they appreciated that.
Of the teachers he’s met so far, Ferris said he’s found them to be very warm and welcoming and very proud of their students.
On a professional level, he’s found them to be outstanding educators.
One of his goals is to increase the amount of professional development opportunities available to teachers and staff.
“I’m a great believer in collaboration and cooperation,” he said.
While Ferris feels there is always room to strengthen the academic offerings of the diocese’s schools, he is pleased overall with their individual management.
“There is very strong principal leadership in the diocese,” he said.
Ferris notes that serving in the capacity of a principal today requires a bit of a different skill set than it once did.
In addition to being outstanding leaders, principals today are expected to be good financial managers, with solid business practices.
Principals are often called upon to work on marketing their schools better in the community. They are also involved with aspects of development, and have some familiarity with running an annual fund and capital campaigns.
“That’s the side of being a principal as it has evolved today,” Ferris said. “It’s about keeping Catholic schools in growth mode, rather than in decline.”
To that end, Ferris is a big proponent of using the Web, as well as social media, to get the word out about the good things happening in Catholic schools.
Ferris sees Catholic education as a mission, one that comes with a sacrificial cost for parents seeking a high-quality, faith-filled learning environment for their children.
“There is no better place for the faith formation and evangelization of children than in the Catholic schools,” Ferris said.
The future of the church lies in the youth, and the youth need to be formed in the faith, he feels.
“The church is living in the Catholic schools,” he said. “Lay people have taken up this role to form children in the faith.”
The theme of Catholic Schools Week this year is “A+ for the Nation.”
Ferris will have an opportunity to see some of the many good things happening in the schools across the diocese, including the offering of special Masses, and the hosting of grandparents and volunteer appreciation days, talent shows, spelling bees and science fairs, during the celebration of Catholic Schools Week.
