Overcoming a National Crisis through Support and Collaboration
Since 2020, nearly every school in the United States has seen setbacks in student achievement due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which widened pre-existing disparities even further.
Because Every Child is Precious: How Relationships Rooted in Love Bring Out Your True Self
Scholar of the Week is always an honor, but why did Precious evoke such an intense reaction from her teachers and peers?
Joy in Learning: The most impressive result
If you happened to be walking the halls of Brilla Veritas Middle School, there’s a good chance you’d run into the principal, Mr. Patrick McGowan, encouraging scholars from his portable loudspeaker.
Texas Border Business: Seton’s Aaron Brenner to be honored by Teach For America with the Alumni Leadership Award
Texas Border Business featured Aaron Brenner, general partner, chief of charter school growth, and founding superintendent for Brillante Academy, who
KRGV News: New Charter School Breaks Ground in Mission
Brillante Academy held a groundbreaking ceremony on December 9th. KRGV News gives a first look into the action that occurred
NorthJersey.com: Paterson’s newest charter school picks its first students
The Paterson Press section on NorthJersey.com reacts to the city’s newest charter school, Brilla New Jersey, who started registering its first
When Rain is an Answered Prayer
This reflection comes from founding Texas staff member and Cohort 10 Fellow, Angela Vodola, on the challenges of growth, the unexpected ways in which God answers prayers, and the consolation of joy in hardship.
Made for One Another: Community on Mission
In anticipation of the dreaded senior question—”What are you doing after you graduate?”—I decided to start my job search early. I was interested in teaching, but I didn’t know where. Browser tabs began to clutter my laptop as I explored school websites and hiring pages, anxiously wondering where I might work. But by November of my senior year, the Lord was shepherding me toward His more perfect plan—the opportunity to combine a love for mission and community.
“What Would happen if You Just Let Go of fear?”
During the spring semester of my senior year of college, I spent many weeks writing applications and cover letters to every and any local school with an opening in my licensure area. Throughout this process, I felt no peace. At every turn, there was just something in my spirit that wouldn’t settle. When I came across yet another post from STF on a Sunday morning in March, I reacted reflexively with my own plan: “God, I don’t need that, I know what I’m doing.” At that moment, pushing back on God, something changed in me. My heart finally opened to Him, and I felt Him gently say “No, you really don’t.”
For the first time, I listened to that nudge.
For Freedom You Were Set Free: Lessons From a First Year Teacher
This special reflection comes from Cohort 9 STF Anna Stevenson. Anna, who studied English and education at the University of Dallas, shares some of the hard-earned fruits of her first year as a middle school teacher. Are you new to teaching? Wondering what education and mission work might have in store for you? See the eight lessons Anna has to share with new teachers in this blog post.
I Am Not Worthy
This reflection is from Anna Donnelly, a Cohort 9 Seton Teaching Fellow. Anna served in our founding Catholic school, Romero Academy at Resurrection, where she taught Catechism and literacy blocks. We are blessed to share that Anna will be joining her community members as one of the founding teachers at our second school in Cincinnati, Ohio: Romero Academy at Annunciation. In this meditative reflection on grace and the movement of God in our lives, Anna shares the trust she has in the Lord and the mystical ways in which He works through us.
Building the Communion of Saints
I first found out about Seton Teaching Fellows over three years ago. The aspect of the mission that grabbed my heart and pulled my attention more than anything else was hearing stories about the beautiful children who would receive the Sacraments and be brought into the Church through our Catechism classes: El Camino. What was even more inspiring is the fact that children would go home and bring this gift to their families—our disciples bring prayer to the home and have even asked their parents to be baptized and join the Church. When I encountered this reality it gave me chills (and still does to this day).
Making God Known, Loved, and Served
We know the story well, perhaps too well. Today, Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the United States remain the
Preserving a Critical National Asset
On April 24, 2008, President George W. Bush convened in Washington, D.C., a broad array of education and community stakeholders
Who Will Save America’s Urban Catholic Schools?
America’s urban Catholic schools are in crisis. This report finds that over 1,300 schools have shut down since 1990, mostly