Texas Education and Advocacy for Montessori’s Post

Something uniquely Catholic is coming May 1! Nebraska Catholic Day of Giving, formerly called Joy of Giving Day, has been reimagined, and now encompasses the entire state. You can schedule your gift starting TODAY. Our latest blog describes more about the day and our story. You can also go straight to https://lnkd.in/grKBS3Vn when you're ready to make a gift. https://lnkd.in/gWUYxvDY

This is at the heart of why we struggle in education - lack of trust. Do we not trust that kids and young people know what they are interested in? Do we not trust that their creativity and passions could help us see solutions we never conceptualized? How have we become a system that defaults to treating kids as though they are somehow at fault and wrong for not wanting to sit still for 8 hours, or for wanting to talk to their peers or for wanting to explore the newest trending thing? We've done the same thing to our teachers - become mistrustful and misguided and overburdened them with standards that serve no one. How do we flip the script and suddenly value and trust the inputs, thoughts and feelings of our students and our teachers?

Tag! You're it! I took the pledge! Have you? Support Adult Education by signing the Educate & Elevate America Pledge. https://lnkd.in/eXD4DJ5B Tag 5 friends that will support everyone's right to an education!! Let's keep it going! Coalition on Adult Basic Education 

"Trust Children. Nothing could be more simple—or more difficult. Difficult, because to trust children we must trust ourselves —and most of us were taught as children that we could not be trusted." —John Holt Whenever I see an educator defending an authoritarian move in the classroom, like locking up every child's cellphone, they defend it in the name of "helping children." But how much of that "help" is true to its word, and how much is our lack of trust in our young people? What if we trusted that children and adolescents could do more than we societally expect from them? What if we gave them the opportunity to make meaningful choices about their daily lives and education? Maria Montessori saw this in her observations with children: Under these conditions, they thrive. If we don't examine ourselves and our own experiences with being trusted (or not) as children, we will not create an environment of empowerment and liberation. -- Enjoy this? Repost to your page and follow Andrew Faulstich, M.S.Ed. for more!

"Educated kids make educated decisions." That’s why we partner with schools and our community of caring neighbors like you to help kids to succeed in school and in life.    Watch as Rene Gellerman, our President & CEO, shares with Johnny Marx the thinking behind our United for Schools initiative – to unite community resources and volunteers to help kids early on, to help them unlock brighter futures for themselves.   And, the results speak for themselves. Dive deeper here: https://lnkd.in/gXpwEqV3

Now in our second school year, St. Peter Catholic Career & Technical High School continues to see many “firsts” including our first 9th grade class becoming upperclassmen as 10th graders, and a new 9th grade class. The support we have received to assist us in renovating our facility and starting our Financial Aid program have made it possible for us to not only open our doors, but also attract our first two classes of students. We now embark on our next phase in our school’s journey with the beginning of an Annual Giving campaign with a defined mission of supporting the students, families, and long-term success of St. Peter Catholic. While the school has an annual tuition of $15,000 per student, 96% percent of our students are receiving Financial Aid - covering on average 86% of their tuition. With more students – from 10 last year to 26 this year - a 160% enrollment increase - our needs have become greater with a 155% percent increase in the amount of Financial Aid the school provides. With the growing enrollment the costs for our educational programs, additional teaching staff, student support, Admissions outreach, and continued enhancements for student security have all increased exponentially. As more families become aware of our first of its kind program in our Archdiocese, city, and state we know our enrollment and our needs will continue to grow. It is our goal - and we need the support of many to continue for us to be successful in doing so - to be able to accept as many students as we can to carry out our mission: “To empower students to be models of faith through Catholic spiritual formation while providing a creative and comprehensive education in career and technical pathways.” In order for us to continue this journey we have started - this significant impact to Catholic education now available in Houston - we need your support by making your contribution to our Annual Giving campaign. https://lnkd.in/ge88EP_Z To learn more about St. Peter Catholic there are links to our full Annual Giving Campaign kick-off letter as well as our first ever Annual Report on our online giving page linked above.

When the Curtain Falls: The Encore Performance of Our Everyday Unsung Heroes It was the final performance of the school play—a production put together with more passion than budget, more enthusiasm than experience. As the audience clapped and the curtain fell, Mrs. Langley, the director and a seasoned English teacher, gathered her young cast backstage for a final huddle. Her words were simple, yet heartfelt: "What you did on stage was more than act; you brought stories to life, taught lessons without a textbook, and reached hearts beyond these walls." Little did the students know, the school had almost cut the drama program due to budget constraints. But Mrs. Langley, determined not to let that happen, volunteered her time after school, seeking donations for costumes and set pieces, proving her belief in the program's value for student growth and confidence. This story isn't just about saving a program or a successful school play. It's about the often unseen dedication of teachers like Mrs. Langley, who work tirelessly behind the scenes. These are the educators who stay late, come early, and go beyond their job descriptions to ensure that every child can experience success and joy in learning. As the school year draws to a close and we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, let's remember and celebrate the Mrs. Langleys in schools across the country. It's their unwavering commitment, often unnoticed until the curtain falls, that truly shapes the future of our children. This week, let's give them the standing ovation they deserve, not just now but every day, for their relentless dedication and impact goes far beyond the fleeting moments of applause. #TeacherAppreciationWeek #EverydayHeroes #EducationImpact #BeyondTheClassroom

It's not just the children who benefit from Chapter One UK's online reading volunteers programme. Amanda Blevins at Fidelity International explains how the experience has improved her skills, "Professionally, it has enhanced my communication skills and empathy towards others. It has helped me lead with more confidence. No matter how stressed I am during my working day, Jullya manages to distract me in a good way, and I will often find solutions to things I was struggling with after our reading session." Read the full interview below. #volunteering #employeevolunteering #socialimpact #socialvalue #employeeengagement #employeewellbeing #csr #esg #corporatepartnerships #literacy #itallstartswithliteracy

Why do you support a Regina education? Share in the comments below, and hear from '78 alumna on her transformative experiences with private, Catholic education. One Day in May, our Day of Giving on May 1st, is approaching fast! It's time to introspect on Regina's impact on your life, and determine how you want to empower future generations of Saddlelites. Already in the spirit of giving? Get a head start and make your gift today!💙🤍🎁➡️ https://lnkd.in/eRBP2DSw

In our latest blog, "Best Practices for Fostering Biblical Thinking by Kids", we delve into the importance of nurturing biblical thinking in our students and offer practical, helpful strategies to implement across all subjects and grades. https://bit.ly/4cTX2qH