Author Description

This book is the third volume in a series that challenges all Catholic educators to create a dialogue on the future of Catholic elementary/middle schools. The volume's 18 essays were written by members of the 1998 National Catholic Elementary/Middle School Principals Academy. Some of these brief chapters provide a vision of what a Catholic school should be like in the 21st century. Other essays describe a process that the authors' implemented to revitalize their schools or to introduce a new program. Some of the topics addressed in the book include the interparish school concept and fund raising, challenges facing Catholic school educators, Catholicity, a Catholic school graduate, tackling a curriculum guide for the 21st century, looking to the past to determine the future of Catholic schools, Catholic elementary schools in 2010, a vision of the Catholic school for the 21st century, the revitalization of schools, helping each other, serving the needs of early adolescents in a K-8 Catholic school, and parental involvement. It is hoped that through sharing these ideas and programs educators will find the ideas helpful in planning an effective educational program. The essays include: (1) "The Interparish School Concept: A Creative Approach to Funding" (Elaine Baumgartner); (2) "Are Catholic Schools Providing Just Wages for Teachers?" (Pamela Byrd); (3) "Tackling a Curriculum Guide for the 21st Century" (Barbara E. Leek); (4) "Our Catholic Elementary Schools in 2010" (Thomas McKenna); and (5) "A Secret to Success: Parental Involvement" (Anita J. Westerhaus). (RJM)