A UNIQUE VOCATION AMU’s New M.Ed. in Catholic Educational Leadership

The graduate programs at Ave Maria continue to expand! Ave Maria’s newest graduate program, Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Catholic Educational Leadership, is slated to open in summer 2023 pending approval by the University’s accrediting body, SACSCOC.

AMU’s M.Ed. has long been a dream of its founder, Tom Monaghan. He has always understood faithful Catholic schools are dependent on talented and faithful Catholic leaders. The University is in a position of strength to fulfill this dream and meet the need of a growing number of faithful Catholic educational organizations, religious orders, and networked superintendents who are all looking for something more than can be produced by most schools of education.

The educational landscape has now fully enshrined radical ideologies into national accreditation standards most schools of education — even most Catholic universities — must support and demonstrate in practice. AMU will not be beholden to the ubiquitous National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) standards. These standards require candidates to “understand and demonstrate the capacity to promote” radical secular agendas and demonstrate them in internships. The current confused state in most schools of education has made it clear Catholic schools cannot afford to farm out the formation of their school leaders and hope for the best.

Ave Maria is stepping up and stepping into the gap to train bold and faithful Catholic leaders who can re-form and expand Catholic education, in the face of both daunting challenges and unprecedented grace-filled opportunities.

AMU’s program recognizes Catholic schools need wise and skilled leaders who embrace the Church’s desire for her schools to be evangelical educational communities, seeking the salvation of students and maximizing the wellbeing of the world around them according to God’s plan.

The program will include specific training to these ends. It is designed to be small, personal, powerful, faithful, and targeted with standards built on a Catholic worldview and using a Catholic lexicon to promote, evaluate, and inspire Catholic schools and their long histories of community, care, and joy.

AMU’s hybrid program draws on the best of in-person networking, community building, and online convenience. 40% of the 30-credit degree is covered in two, two-week summer in-person intensive residencies with other classes available during the academic year asynchronously (i.e., ondemand when the student is ready).

Most M.Ed.s in school administration are now completely asynchronous, which does not allow colleagues to meet and learn in person. However, for Catholic education, community and interpersonal relationships are fundamental. Summer residencies allow colleagues to develop an authentic Catholic educational community, learn better from each other’s insights throughout the year, and form real relationships and networks that will benefit them beyond graduate school.

AMU’s M.Ed. is not just about forming leaders, but in and of itself, leads. Leaders do not follow in lockstep, dwell in fear, or put up with a flawed status quo — they lead! Leadership rejects the notion of copying or following anything anemic and flawed, and especially anything harmful to children. Leadership is fearless of bullies and mobs, and it rejects tired patterns enforced by entrenched ideologically driven pedagogues.

AMU’s program does not copy the standard secular fare of other educational programs, but infuses a Catholic worldview throughout, including specific coursework to meet the needs of Catholic schools and leaders. As might be expected, the program includes a robust course in the history and mission of Catholic education, and additionally a course in Catholic spirituality for leaders to address the reality that Catholic schools are ecclesial in nature, and their leadership is a “munus” or type of office within the Church. Candidates examine the joys, sorrows, stresses, and excitement of Catholic school leadership and how these can be situated and integrated into a fully Catholic life. Candidates also take a course dedicated to Catholic culture, community, and catechetics that considers the central nature that community and culture play in fulfilling a Catholic school’s mission and Catholic identity. Candidates learn how to assess and enhance the Catholic spirituality of the school community, promoting frequent and faithful liturgy and a rich sacramental life. They also perfect the ability to lead prayer and retreats, evangelizing and catechizing both students and parents.

Job prospects for graduates are bright as multiple diocesan superintendents have already expressed a desire to hire program graduates, with some even offering their own scholarships to the AMU program. Two growing and faithful religious teaching orders have also indicated their desire to use this program in the formation of their future sisters.

The program intends to launch this summer, pending approval by SACSCOC. This program is currently seeking prospective candidates and benefactors.

For more information on the program, visit avemaria. edu/m-ed. You may contact the program director, Dr. Dan Guernsey, by email or phone 239-304-7010.

— Dan Guernsey Associate Professor of Education, Director of M.Ed. in Catholic Educational Leadership dan.guernsey@avemaria.edu