The Catholic School Leaders Podcast

How to Build a School That Goes All In on Catholic Culture

Host: John Mihalyo | Guest: Deacon Dave Kerski, Former Catholic School Principal, Diocese of Raleigh What does it actually mean to be a Catholic school — not just in name, but in everything you do, every single day? Deacon Dave Kerski knows the difference. He spent ten years turning around a Catholic school in New Bern, North Carolina that was on the brink of closing. He earned his master's from Notre Dame's ACE program, served as a deacon, and built the kind of school culture that students, families, and teachers genuinely wanted to be a part of. Not by accident — by being relentlessly intentional about it. In this episode, Deacon Dave and John have a real conversation about what authentic Catholic identity actually looks like in a school building. Not the surface stuff. The deep stuff. The kind of culture that changes how kids grow up, how teachers show up, and how families understand what they are signing up for. Here is some of what they get into: Why Catholic identity is an anthropological question, not just a checklist of Catholic stuff you do  How to build a school playbook that ties everything — from morning drop-off to the awards you give out — back to your root beliefs and core values  What to do when a fourth grader asks you something you have no idea how to answer  Why your eighth graders may have been at a Catholic school their whole life and still have a malformed conscience — and what to do about it The difference between Catholic culture and Catholic identity, and why getting that wrong will cost you  How to build teacher formation that actually prepares your staff for the hard conversations kids are already having  Why it is better to be a year too early than a minute too late when it comes to forming your students in the faith  What AI in the classroom has to do with Catholic pedagogy — and why Catholic schools may have the upper hand if they take it seriously  The one thing every Catholic school principal has to have in place before they can lead anyone else If you are a principal, pastor, superintendent, or school leader who has ever looked around and wondered whether your school is actually Catholic or just kind of Catholic — this one is going to give you a lot to think about and a lot to go do. Connect with John If you want to talk about your school — enrollment, advancement, culture, or whatever is keeping you up at night — head over to elementaryadvancement.com and let's set up a time to connect. If this episode was helpful, subscribe and share it with another Catholic school leader who needs to hear this. Thank you for everything you do for your students, your families, and the mission of Catholic education. Learn more about today's sponsor, Renaissance:   As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com [https://www.renaissance.com/].

The Move from Public School to Catholic School: What Nobody Tells You Before You Start

Host: John Mihalyo | Guest: Tom Conroy, Principal, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School, Verona, NJ Tom Conroy spent over 20 years as a public school principal before stepping into Catholic school leadership at Our Lady of the Lake in Verona, New Jersey. He will be the first to tell you that nothing fully prepared him for what he walked into — and that it has been the best chapter of his career. In this episode, Tom and John get honest about what that transition really looks like. The surprises, the myths, and the mindset shifts that nobody hands you in a manual on day one. From the financial realities that catch almost every new Catholic school leader off guard, to leading with your faith out front for the first time, to figuring out why recruitment and advancement are so much more than you expected — this conversation covers a lot of ground. Tom also talks about burnout, why asking for help is not a weakness, and what it actually feels like to be part of a Catholic school community after years of wondering what all the fuss was about. If you are heading into your first year leading a Catholic school, just survived your first year, or are thinking about making the jump from public school — this one is for you. LINKS AND RESOURCES Work with John elementaryadvancement.com [https://www.elementaryadvancement.com/] Learn more about today's sponsor, Renaissance:   As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com [https://www.renaissance.com/].

Rest, Reflect, and Get Ready: A Summer Game Plan for Catholic School Leaders

Host: John Mihalyo  |  ~25 min You made it through another school year — and that is worth celebrating. Whether this year felt like a championship season or survival mode, you showed up every single day for your students, your families, and your mission. That matters. In this episode, John takes a few minutes to celebrate what you accomplished, have an honest conversation about where your enrollment stands heading into summer, and send you off with five practical action items to make sure the next few months are intentional — not accidental. Because here's the thing — summer is not a break from enrollment. Families are making decisions right now, and the schools that stay visible and proactive are the ones that win in the fall. If you're not where you wanted to be this year, John talks about why your message may not be landing and what to do about it. And yes — rest is on the list too. You cannot lead well on empty. So before you dive into summer planning mode, give yourself permission to actually recharge. The mission needs you healthy. LINKS AND RESOURCES Free Summer Workshop "Ten Things Every Catholic School Leader Should Do This Summer" — free at elementaryadvancement.com [https://www.elementaryadvancement.com/] Work with John If your enrollment isn't where you want it to be, reach out at elementaryadvancement.com [https://www.elementaryadvancement.com/] If this episode was helpful, subscribe and share it with another Catholic school leader who could use some encouragement heading into summer. Thank you for everything you do for your students, your families, and the mission of Catholic education. Learn more about today's sponsor, Renaissance:   As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com [https://www.renaissance.com/].

Dream Bigger: How One Small Catholic School Turned Everything Around

Host: John Mihalyo Guest: Tara Nelson, Advancement & Enrollment Director, Parkersburg Catholic Schools The Catholic School Leaders Podcast Episode Overview Three years ago, Parkersburg Catholic Schools was facing declining enrollment, financial uncertainty, and rumors in the community that the school might not survive. Today, they are raising $500,000 for a campus consolidation project backed by a 3-to-1 diocesan match of $1.5 million and they are ahead of schedule. In this episode, John sits down with Tara Nelson, the advancement and enrollment director who has been at the center of this transformation, to talk about how they rebuilt trust, grew their community, and created a culture where dreaming bigger became the expectation not the exception. Key Takeaways 1. Trust has to be rebuilt before dollars will follow. Families and donors won't invest in a school they aren't sure will still be open. Parkersburg Catholic started small — fixing the ice machine, securing new front doors and showed their community that when they said something would happen, it happened. 2. Parish partnerships have to be a two-way street. The school shows up at all five of their parishes every single month. Not just to ask for support but to give it. That intentional relationship is a big reason their community showed up when it mattered most. 3. Word of mouth marketing is free and it is powerful. A simple end-of-year video from their elementary principal went into the tens of thousands of views and helped grow their Facebook following from 1,200 to nearly 3,500. You don't need a big budget. You need an authentic story worth telling. 4. Intentionality is everything. Nothing happening at Parkersburg Catholic is accidental. From who speaks at Sunday Mass to when posts go out on social media to how faculty are appreciated, there is a system and a purpose behind all of it. 5. When you dream bigger, your community shows up bigger. Nobody blinked when the $500,000 goal was announced. That confidence didn't come from nowhere — it came from two years of doing exactly what they said they would do. Challenge for This Week Think about one promise your school has made to your community, big or small, that hasn't been followed through on yet. What would it take to close that loop this week and start rebuilding that trust? Connect with Parkersburg Catholic Schools Follow their campaign and campus project updates: 🌐 parkersburgcatholic.com [https://parkersburgcatholic.com] 📘 Facebook: Parkersburg Catholic Schools [https://www.facebook.com/parkersburgcatholic] Learn More John Mihalyo works with Catholic schools across the country through Elementary Advancement Solutions, helping leaders strengthen enrollment, advancement, and long-term sustainability. Learn more at www.elementaryadvancement.com [http://www.elementaryadvancement.com/] Schedule a time to meet with John here! [https://cal.com/elementaryadvancement/virtual-cup-of-coffee] Learn more about today's sponsor, Renaissance:   As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com [https://www.renaissance.com/].

Catholic School Leadership After NCEA: A Framework for Following Through

Host: John Mihalyo The Catholic School Leaders Podcast Episode Overview You left the NCEA fired up. Notebooks full of ideas. Texts to your team. Sessions you can't stop thinking about. And then Monday happened. In this episode, John shares a simple four-step framework for making sure the energy and ideas from a great conference actually make it off the shelf and into your school. Key Takeaways 1. Capture your top three takeaways. Not 10, not 15 — three. The ones that are actually going to move your school forward. 2. Align ideas to your school's reality. The best idea in the world is a non-starter if it doesn't fit your culture, your structure, or where you are right now. 3. Take one action this week. Don't wait until May. Don't wait until June. One small, clear step this week is worth more than a perfect plan that never starts. 4. Build in accountability. Inspiration without structure leads to frustration. Find a person, a group, or a system that keeps you moving forward. Challenge for This Week Pick your top three takeaways from the NCEA. Write them down. Then take one action on one of them before Friday. Learn More John Mihalyo works with Catholic schools across the country through Elementary Advancement Solutions, helping leaders strengthen enrollment, advancement, and long-term sustainability. Learn more at www.elementaryadvancement.com [http://www.elementaryadvancement.com/] Schedule a time to meet with John here! [https://cal.com/elementaryadvancement/virtual-cup-of-coffee] Learn more about today's sponsor, Renaissance:   As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com [https://www.renaissance.com/].