Initiative will cultivate Catholic education leaders across Ireland
Responding directly to the increased challenges and complexities facing Catholic education leadership in Ireland, Boston College’s Roche Center for Catholic Education is partnering with Boston College Ireland to cultivate a new generation of mission-driven leaders for Catholic primary and post-primary schools across the Emerald Isle.
Melodie Wyttenbach
“The initiative aims to equip aspiring and current Irish Catholic leaders with the theological grounding, professional skills, and collaborative networks necessary to articulate and embody the distinctive ethos and values of Catholic education for the 21st century,” said Roche Center Executive Director Melodie Wyttenbach. "Having witnessed the transformative impact of our leadership programs in the United States for the past 15 years, we are thrilled to partner with the Irish Catholic educational community to cultivate a new wave of leaders who are deeply committed to the mission of Catholic education."
She noted that the new program will particularly address the increased disassociation from spiritual concerns, the evolving educational expectations, and the changing governance structures in Ireland’s Catholic educational system. By investing in these leaders, says Wyttenbach, the Roche Center seeks to ensure that Irish Catholic schools will flourish and remain true to their mission while actively engaging with contemporary society.
Angela Mitchell
Angela Mitchell, a seasoned Irish educator with over 20 years of experience working in the Irish education system as a teacher, school leader, and mentor of leaders across the network, will assume the role of director of Leadership Formation-Ireland. Mitchell will be responsible for designing and implementing a variety of leadership programs intended to strengthen institutional governance.
“This timely initiative recognizes the critical juncture at which Irish Catholic education stands,” said Mitchell. “As leadership transitions occur and younger educators assume key roles, this project will provide the necessary support and formation to ensure the continued vitality and Catholic identity of our schools.”
The program is funded by the Trustey Family Foundation in partnership with the Dublin-based Boston College Ireland, which serves as a permanent location for BC’s Irish Institute, as well as an in-country resource for the University’s Irish Studies Program, Burns Library, international student programs and outreach to political, business, and educational leaders in both the republic and Northern Ireland.
The Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education, established by the BC Board of Trustees in 2007 and located at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, builds on more than a half-century of research, teaching, and outreach related to Catholic schools. The center assembles under one banner strategic initiatives to develop vibrant and revitalized models for the future of Catholic education.