CECE conducts conference for Catholic educators

International expert on Catholic education to lead discussions

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, August 26, 2006

The Center for Excellence in Catholic Education, a partnership between Niagara University and Stella Niagara Education Park, will conduct a one-day conference entiltled: "Forging the Future in Challenging Times." This event will take place at Stella Niagara from 9 a.m. to 2:20 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 1. Currently, more than 240 teachers from Western New York and Canada will be in attendance.

Sister Clare Fitzgerald, a national and international expert on Catholic education, will lead and facilitate this conference.

Education in a Catholic school environment is unique from that of the public sector, and includes not only the mandated state curriculum but also religious formation throughout all grades. Sister Clare is assisting the CECE in its efforts to strengthen the integration and retention of faith within the framework of training and development.

The CECE will provide a coordinated and comprehensive professional development strategy for teachers and administrators working in Catholic institutions, and facilitate research related to Catholic education. The regional resource center is housed at Stella Niagara Education Park due to its accessibility to both Western New York and Ontario.

The two institutions are well positioned to further the mission of Catholic education, and to continue the long-standing tradition of passing on the faith. Both institutions have enjoyed a long-standing partnership that has enhanced their individual programs through shared resources, knowledge and experience.

The objectives of the center include the following: incorporate Catholic teaching knowledge, skill and experience into professional development opportunities; develop liaisons between Catholic educators and public schools to coordinate training/development initiatives; conduct pre-service opportunities that show future educators how to implement the vision of Catholic education and integrate faith into the community of learning; facilitate and coordinate programs that are designed to meet the unique needs of specific Catholic educational organizations; initiate research into Catholic education; and foster and explore the uses of technology to further Catholic education.