Session IV:
The Superintendent
as Charismatic
Leader
Superintendents’ Academy
CACE Conference
October, 2013
Standards of Excellence
5. An excellent Catholic school has a governing
body (person or persons) which recognizes and
respects the role(s) of the appropriate and
legitimate authorities, and exercises responsible
decision making (authoritative, consultative,
advisory) in collaboration with the leadership
team for development and oversight of the
school’s fidelity to mission, academic excellence,
and operational vitality.
6. An excellent Catholic school has a qualified
leader/leadership team empowered by the
governing body to realize and implement the
school’s mission and vision.
Standards of
Excellence
11. An excellent Catholic school
operates in accord with
published human
resource/personnel policies
developed in compliance with
(arch)diocesan policies and/or
religious congregation
sponsorship policies, which
affect all staff (clergy, religious
women and men, laity and
volunteers) and provide clarity
for responsibilities, expectations
and accountability.
What is “Charisma”?
One Definition: “The ability
to energize and inspire
others to willingly accept a
vision or position.”
EVANGELIZATION
Spreading the
Good News of
Jesus Christ to
the next
generation.
CEO = “Chief Evangelizing Officer”
Five Suggestions About
Charismatic Leadership
1.) Know Your people!
a. Schools
b. School Leaders
c. Clergy
d. Religious Orders
e. Chancery Staff
f. Bishop!
Five Suggestions
Focus on our Catholic Mission
• Remember our evangelizing mission!
• All decisions and planning should be centered on this
mission
• God has called you to leadership in His Church
• You will not succeed without faith!
Know Your People
•
•
•
•
Listen!
Get out into your schools
Take an interest in what is happening
Don’t neglect internal relationships
Be The Boss
•
•
•
•
Keep the mission in front of everyone
Identify & affirm strengths
Address weaknesses
Leverage staff
Expect the Unexpected
• Have set, reliable policies and procedures, but
BE FLEXIBLE
• Manage your own stress level
• Model a calm, stable atmosphere
Remember that You are the Face
of Catholic School Education
• Model professionalism and faith
• Take care of your personal, physical, and
spiritual needs…Our students deserve the
best!
You Can Do This!
Charismatic
Leadership
Scenarios
For each scenario, answer the following
question:
“As Charismatic Leader, how would
you resolve this situation in the best
interests of Catholic education?”
Scenario One: “The Hire”
You receive a call from Mr. Stress, one of your most effective elementary principals. Mr.
Stress is highly frustrated with his new pastor, Fr. Crank, who joined the parish last July
after serving at a parish across town. When Fr. Crank started, he immediately fired the
parish Director of Religious Education (DRE) and hired his former DRE, Mrs. Browning,
from his old parish. According Mr. Stress, it is clear that Fr. Crank and Mrs. Browning have
worked together for many years and are close friends.
Fr. Crank has informed Mr. Stress that Mrs. Browning will now be serving as his
immediate supervisor. In addition, Mrs. Browning will have “complete control” over the
religious instruction in the school (Mr. Stress has been informed that he will not observe
or evaluate teachers when they conduct religion classes). Mrs. Browning has established
an office in the school, and is a constant presence in the hallways. Recently, Fr. Crank
announced that Mrs. Browning will also take over the operational aspects of the school,
including setting and monitoring the budget and managing the facilities. Mrs. Browning
has no qualifications as a school administrator.
Mr. Stress is highly upset. He has complained about the arrangement, but Fr. Crank
seems highly resistant. According to Mr. Stress, other parish staff members (such as the
business manager and facilities manager) are similarly frustrated. Mr. Stress indicates that
he may leave the school mid-year if the situation does not improve.
Scenario Two: “The Blog”
You receive an anonymous letter conveying concerns about a blog
operated by Mrs. Sway, the principal of a diocesan-owned high school.
Spurred by the letter, you access the blog. The blog appears on a personal
website maintained by Mrs. Sway that contains no references to her job,
her school, or the diocese. The blog includes several entries advocating
for gay marriage. In these posts, Mrs. Sway states that we must accept
the marital rights of all people, and that “certain religious institutions”
need to wake up, enter the 21st Century, and support this position. Mrs.
Sway indicates that she is “unabashedly supportive” of gay marriage. She
does not once mention the Catholic Church by name.
Mrs. Sway has been a principal for six years and has a positive
performance record. To your knowledge, her personal views have not
directly influenced her work as principal. However, within 24 hours, you
receive a number of e-mails and phone calls of concern from parents and
alumni who have seen the blog. One has even threatened to alert the
media.
Scenario Three: “The Vote”
You receive a call from Mr. Timid, the principal of a parish-sponsored elementary
school. Mr. Timid’s school has faced great demographic changes in recent years. The
traditional Catholic population in the neighborhood has largely moved out, and has been
replaced by a high poverty, non-Catholic, minority population. The enrollment at the
school has dropped, as has the number of regular parishioners in the church.
Mr. Timid conveys deep concerns about the future viability of the school. The parish
is currently providing over $500,000 in subsidy to the school each year. The parish has cut
virtually every other ministry in order to keep the school going. The parish has now
depleted its reserves, and will not be able to continue subsidizing the school at the same
level in the future.
To compound the issue, the parish council recently voted to cap the number of nonCatholics in the school at no more than 40%. The parish council claims that the current
number of non-Catholics is harming the school’s Catholic Identity. Such a cap would
drastically reduce the number of students in the school and dramatically impact the
school’s tuition revenue. The pastor seems unwilling to oppose the parish council.
Mr. Timid is frightened about the future of the school. He is desperate for any help
you could provide.
Scenario Four: “The Conference”
Your Bishop, Bishop Priestly, has asked you to meet with a group of pastors who have
shared their concerns about the quality of Catholic teaching in the diocesan high schools.
Bishop Priestly has assured the pastors that you will listen to their concerns and respond
appropriately. Upon meeting with them, you learn that the pastors are receiving concerns
from some parishioners about inaccurate and lackadaisical teaching amongst the religion
faculty at “all” Catholic high schools in the diocese. The pastors demand action, even
offering to write a local curriculum themselves to ensure that “authentic” Catholic
teaching is offered in the schools.
The pastors are further convinced that the high schools are actively encouraging their
students not to attend weekend Masses. They claim that this is evident by the absence of
teenagers in the pews and in parish ministries.
When you discuss this topic with the high school principals, they react very
negatively. They state that the quality of religious instruction and Catholic identity in their
schools is strong, and are skeptical that a group of parishioners is exerting undue
influence on the pastors who are involved. They claim that their students frequently
complain about the quality of worship in many of the parishes.
Bishop Priestly is looking to you to resolve the situation.
Scenario Five: “The Offer”
You receive a phone call from Mr. Illustrious, an extremely wealthy retired
businessman. Mr. Illustrious is known for his extreme generosity to the Church; he is a top
giver to the annual diocesan campaign, and has bankrolled numerous projects at local
parishes and schools. Mr. Illustrious wishes to make an enormous donation to the diocese
to provide scholarships for underprivileged elementary students to attend Catholic high
schools. This fund, which would be endowed, would have a dramatic impact on the ability
of many families to afford a Catholic secondary education.
Mr. Illustrious describes a single condition for his gift. He is concerned about how
sexual education is being taught in Catholic middle schools in the diocese. As a result, he’d
like the diocese to adopt “Perfect Angels”, a human sexuality program in all diocesan
middle schools.
“Perfect Angels” is Catholic-based, and does have an imprimatur. However, you
question the overall quality of the program, and you worry that your principals will see
this program as an imposition from your office. Mr. Illustrious is emphatic that “Perfect
Angels” must be implemented for the total funds to be donated, and is unwilling to
compromise.
Prayer for Charismatic Leadership