Photo courtesy of Christopher Mominey
In every Catholic school, culture is where the mission becomes visible. In short, it’s “the way we do things around here.”
It is the spirit a visitor senses in the hallway, the welcome a child receives at the classroom door, and the quiet consistency with which adults model faith, hope, and love. Culture reminds students, teachers, parents, and supporters that how we do things matters just as much as what we do. When a school’s culture is strong, its mission, vision, and core values move beyond words on a website or posters in a hallway. They become daily habits that shape learning, relationships, and faith.
A generation or two ago, educators often referred to school culture as the “hidden curriculum.” In Catholic schools, people sometimes described it as that “certain something” that draws teachers in, keeps families connected, and gives our schools a distinct character. But culture should not be left to chance. Catholic school leaders can name it clearly, nurture it intentionally, and invite the entire community to live it together. This work begins with simple, practical questions: What do we believe? What do we expect? What do we celebrate? What do we correct? What do people experience when they encounter our school?
A mission statement should be clear, concise, and alive in the daily life of the school. For Catholic school educators, our mission is rooted in the call to teach as Jesus did. Perhaps the first great mission statement for Catholic education was simply this: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” The Lord did not give us an enrollment goal, a gala target, or a marketing slogan. He gave us a command: Go. The practical work is to keep the mission simple, repeat it often, and use it as a guide for decisions large and small. If a program, policy, schedule, or tradition does not help the school live its mission more fully, leaders should have the courage to ask why it remains.
Vision points a school toward what it hopes to become. It is aspirational. It gives language to our hopes and dreams for the students entrusted to our care. In a Catholic school, vision should lift our eyes beyond the next test, event, or school year and remind us of the lasting work of formation. Practically, leaders can return to the vision when setting priorities, planning professional development, evaluating programs, and communicating with families. A strong vision helps a school say yes with confidence—and no with purpose.
Values make the mission tangible. In Catholic schools, core values are visible in habits, attitudes, expectations, and relationships. They can be seen in the way teachers greet students, the way students treat one another, the way parents respond to challenges, and the way supporters speak about the school. While values are not sacramental in the formal sense, they are outward signs of an inward commitment. Leaders make values practical by teaching them explicitly, naming them when they appear, and correcting behaviors that contradict them. Over time, these repeated actions become the culture. They remind us that culture is everyone’s responsibility—not only the principal’s, pastor’s, or leadership team.
Good governing bodies and good school leaders know their school mission. And great governing bodies and great leaders set a collective tone at the top and make sure that their core values are cascaded across the entire school community in every single thing that they do.
Our teachers in Catholic schools have been forever the backbone of the mission. From the religious communities who built our schools to the lay men and women serving today, we know they come with the technical and practical skills needed for teaching and learning. But how do we know if they are suitable for our particular school, at this particular time? After all, if you’ve seen one school, you’ve seen one school!
Consider these questions when hiring for culture:
1) Before our interview, I sent you a copy of our school’s core values. Which of those resonate with you, and which of those might be a challenge for you?
2) If you were called upon to write an article about Catholic education for our diocesan newspaper/website, what would the headline be, and what would the article cover?
3) We know that you have the technical skills needed for this position, but can you tell me more about how you would live out our core values above and beyond just the practical expectations of the job?
When it comes to faculty and staff formation, it is perfectly relevant to use your school’s core values as the theme of the day or to consider celebrating a single value each month or at special weeks during the year. Calling out the good in your staff, recognizing that they are living the core values of the school, and honoring their commitment to your culture will transform your community into a place where everyone feels at home.
How many of us remember our teachers from the past? Do we remember what they taught (content), or do we reflect on how they behaved…for better or for worse? As Pope Saint Paul VI reminded us, “Young people need witnesses more than they need teachers.” And as a leader, you are there to create a culture of witnesses.
From time to time, boards and councils can drift off course. Often, what is missing from board development is a deep understanding of the vocation to which members have been called. The responsibility of the laity to walk with school leadership in a synodal way is rooted in a shared commitment to the school’s core values. Board members fulfill their role most effectively when they act in ways that support the mission and adopt practices that show the wider community how those values are lived. Consider these questions when reflecting on the role of the board in your school:
1) Do we hold an annual board retreat that includes time for prayer, discernment, and reflection on the work outlined in our strategic plan?
2) Does our nominating process reflect a clear understanding of the school’s core values so that we appoint members who are aligned with our mission?
3) Do we review the board’s work at the end of each year and provide an opportunity for self-evaluation and continuous improvement?
The culture of a Catholic school is built one choice, one conversation, and one act of witness at a time. When the mission is clear, the vision is shared, and the values are lived, the school becomes more than a place of instruction. It becomes a community of formation—a place where young people encounter truth, goodness, beauty, and the love of Christ in daily life.
Christopher Momineyis a former Catholic school teacher, principal, and diocesan superintendent. From 2013-2018 he was the COO and secretary of education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.chrismominey@gmail.com