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archdiocese-of-miami-adom-partners-with-st-thomas-university-to-train-future-school-leaders

Feature News | Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Archdiocese partners with St. Thomas University to train future school leaders 

Teachers hit the books, climb higher through master’s degree in educational leadership

Pictured are the first cohort of 14 teachers from archdiocesan Catholic schools preparing to complete a master's degree program in Catholic educational leadership at St. Thomas University at a celebration reception  on Jan. 10, 2025. In the back row are superintendent of the Office of Catholic Schools Jim Rigg, center, and President David Armstrong, second from right. The degree program was designed by STU and the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools to prepare future principals.

Photographer: PRISCILLA GREEAR | FC

Pictured are the first cohort of 14 teachers from archdiocesan Catholic schools preparing to complete a master's degree program in Catholic educational leadership at St. Thomas University at a celebration reception on Jan. 10, 2025. In the back row are superintendent of the Office of Catholic Schools Jim Rigg, center, and President David Armstrong, second from right. The degree program was designed by STU and the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools to prepare future principals.

MIAMI | As the Archdiocese of Miami Office of Catholic Schools reports five years of growth, program expansion and waiting lists, it is building a pipeline for future principals through a new master’s degree program at St. Thomas University in Catholic educational leadership.

Joe Basi, performing arts chair at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, was looking for a local master’s degree program in 2022 when he discovered the program.

“It was a Godsend,” Basi said. “It definitely helped me to learn educational leadership skills and to apply them in the jobs I’m currently in at St. Thomas Aquinas and hopefully will advance there into an administrative position,” he said.

Basi particularly loved the class on Catholic history and mission with Donald Edwards, associate superintendent of Catholic schools, covering topics from the history of Friday weekly Mass to the Blaine Amendment blocking public funds from Catholic schools.

Joe Basi, performing arts chair at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, right, greets St. Thomas University President David Armstrong as archdiocesan superintendent of the Office of Catholic Schools Jim Rigg looks on. St. Thomas hosted a reception on Jan. 10, 2025 for 11 incoming students and 14 preparing to graduate from a master's degree program in Catholic educational leadership developed in partnership with the Miami Archdiocese.

Photographer: PRISCILLA GREEAR | FC

Joe Basi, performing arts chair at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, right, greets St. Thomas University President David Armstrong as archdiocesan superintendent of the Office of Catholic Schools Jim Rigg looks on. St. Thomas hosted a reception on Jan. 10, 2025 for 11 incoming students and 14 preparing to graduate from a master's degree program in Catholic educational leadership developed in partnership with the Miami Archdiocese.

“It's a great program based on Catholic school values and Catholic school culture while still offering a competitive degree in education,” said Basi, one of the first 14 students in the STU Catholic Educational Leadership Cohort, before receiving his certificate Jan. 10, 2025, in the convocation hall at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens in anticipation of May graduation.

During the ceremony the incoming cohort class of 11 were also welcomed. STU provost Michelle Johnson-Garcia, vice provost Pamela Cingel, Jim Rigg, superintendent of Catholic schools, associate superintendents Edwards, LaTonya White, and Gabriel Cambert, and other leaders participated.

“We took the traditional master’s in education leadership and made it hybrid, infused it with Catholic content and created a couple of new courses taught by both St. Thomas professors and practitioners, me and members of my team, to really give them good exposure to what it’s like to be a Catholic school principal,” said Rigg.

“We in the Office of Catholic Schools are always fixated on ways to improve and identify, onboard and support and develop the men and women who lead our schools,” added Rigg.

From left: St. Thomas University President David Armstrong,  dean Colin Roche of Biscayne College, dean David Edwards of the Gus Machado College of Business and provost Michelle Johnson-Garcia speak at the reception held Jan. 10, 2025 for 11 incoming students and 14 preparing to graduate from  a master's degree program in Catholic educational leadership at  St. Thomas University.

Photographer: PRISCILLA GREEAR | FC

From left: St. Thomas University President David Armstrong, dean Colin Roche of Biscayne College, dean David Edwards of the Gus Machado College of Business and provost Michelle Johnson-Garcia speak at the reception held Jan. 10, 2025 for 11 incoming students and 14 preparing to graduate from a master's degree program in Catholic educational leadership at St. Thomas University.

When he became superintendent of Catholic schools in 2021, he discussed with the president of St. Thomas University David Armstrong the need for a stronger “bench” of leaders for the 65 schools in the archdiocese. STU, Rigg and his team collaborated to integrate Catholic content into an existing master’s degree in educational leadership for a new track for archdiocesan Catholic school educators. The archdiocese offers scholarships covering one-third of tuition and STU is covering another third for educators at archdiocesan schools accepted to the two-year hybrid degree program launched in 2023 with instruction on campus and online. The first cohort will graduate in May 2025 and must commit to serve at least three years in the archdiocese.

Catholic school educators Emetrail Norris Burton, left, and Manuel Sainz Llama are among 11 teachers who will begin the second cohort to earn a master's degree in educational leadership for Catholic education at St. Thomas University. They received a welcome and stone with a word of encouragement at a reception held Jan. 10, 2025 at St. Thomas.

Photographer: PRISCILLA GREEAR | FC

Catholic school educators Emetrail Norris Burton, left, and Manuel Sainz Llama are among 11 teachers who will begin the second cohort to earn a master's degree in educational leadership for Catholic education at St. Thomas University. They received a welcome and stone with a word of encouragement at a reception held Jan. 10, 2025 at St. Thomas.

President Armstrong thanked Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Sister Elizabeth Worley, archdiocesan chancellor for administration, and Rigg for the partnership and praised educators for their toughness, grit and hope in serving a higher purpose.  “It is your university. We are the archdiocesan university. There are only eight of them left in the country,” he said.

He congratulated the first cohort. “We are an archdiocesan Catholic university of rich cultural and international diversity committed to the academic and professional success of students who go on to become ethical leaders in the global community. That’s who you are. We have hopefully armed you with more education so you can continue to go out and be that wonderful academic, ethical and faith leader in our community.”

Rigg said more than 80 people expressed interest among 11 selected for the new class. “We always have to be intentional about how we identify, recruit, support and develop the people who lead Catholic education.  We have some principals here tonight who can tell you being a Catholic school leader is not always fun and easy but it’s incredibly rewarding and life-giving work,” affirmed Rigg. “We are advancing the ministry and mission of the Catholic Church and the truth and beauty of the Catholic Church to the next generation.”

Rigg taught contemporary issues in Catholic education. “You made the commitment, and we are incredibly proud of you. You’re all leaders already but we look forward to continuing to see how you will positively impact Catholic education for years to come.”

Christopher Anthony Souza, an educator for 18 years,  completed the program while teaching middle school religion, science, social studies and music at St. Lawrence School in North Miami Beach.

“The financial restraints didn’t allow me (before) and this was an amazing opportunity to take advantage of it and really work towards something I really wanted to do,” he said. “I learned a lot about what it means to be an administrator, and I’m better prepared for it. I think the program has strengthened my dedication to Catholic school education. As a teacher as an administrator, we’re basically doing Christ’s mission. We’re playing his role, walking in his footsteps.”

From left: Educators Lisa Donna, Carmen Vigilante-Szucko, Katrina Figueroa, Irene Marinelli and Ana Nunez pose during the celebration reception held Jan. 10, 2025 in anticipation of their upcoming graduation in May 2025 from the first cohort of a two-year master's degree program in educational leadership for Catholic education at St. Thomas University. Graduates will be qualified to apply for principal and other administrative positions in the archdiocese.

Photographer: PRISCILLA GREEAR | FC

From left: Educators Lisa Donna, Carmen Vigilante-Szucko, Katrina Figueroa, Irene Marinelli and Ana Nunez pose during the celebration reception held Jan. 10, 2025 in anticipation of their upcoming graduation in May 2025 from the first cohort of a two-year master's degree program in educational leadership for Catholic education at St. Thomas University. Graduates will be qualified to apply for principal and other administrative positions in the archdiocese.

Teresita Wardlow, principal of St. Mark the Evangelist School in Southwest Ranches, attended with Ana Marilyn Nunez, who completed the degree and two incoming educators from St. Mark. “I’ve been in the archdiocese for 38 years. To see this grow with the university is so fantastic. I get really excited. I’m so proud of them, for our archdiocese and our Catholic schools,” she said. “ It’s very visionary to see the future happening.”

Irene Marinelli of St. Louis Covenant School in Pinecrest embraced the challenge of juggling family, work and homework while networking with classmates. “I always wanted to be an administrator, and when St. Thomas and the archdiocese did it for us, it gave me the boost to sign up. It’s never the right time to start something life-changing but worth it,” she said.

Incoming student Emetrail Norris Burton, student support specialist at St. Mary Cathedral School, has been teaching for 23 years and is looking forward to learning administration. “I’m excited, nervous too. I’m just looking forward to learning new things, expanding my education. I want to see where it leads me,” she said.

Associate superintendent of the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools Donald Edwards speaks at the reception held Jan. 10, 2025 for 11 incoming students and 14 preparing to graduate from a master's degree program in Catholic educational leadership at St. Thomas University.

Photographer: PRISCILLA GREEAR | FC

Associate superintendent of the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools Donald Edwards speaks at the reception held Jan. 10, 2025 for 11 incoming students and 14 preparing to graduate from a master's degree program in Catholic educational leadership at St. Thomas University.

Diana Rodriguez, a theology teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, read an email about the program and felt inspired to apply—never having considered administration. Then, during coursework she learned of the doctorate in theology program that she always wanted to pursue but thought was no longer offered. “I felt like it was God and this was my stepping stone to getting the doctorate again,” she said. “Maybe God has a plan for me for something in administration related to the doctorate like to teach but also have an administrative role.” 

Rodriguez now begins her doctorate. “I felt God calling me to do that (master’s) and I was like ‘okay Lord, I don’t have an inkling for this’ but I’m so happy that I did it. It’s opened a door for me of a different way of serving in the Catholic school community. It’s a new way of serving that I never thought was a possibility for me and now with the doctorate an elevated way of serving students.”

The master’s program will help meet the growing demand for Catholic education, spurred by the expansion of Florida’s voucher system, which allows parents, regardless of income level to attend participating private and parochial schools. There are 65 archdiocesan and independent Catholic schools in the archdiocese and 64 accept state vouchers. Rigg said that there have been five consecutive years of enrollment growth of over 1,000 new students yearly among the 59 archdiocesan Catholic schools. “We’re really blessed over half our schools are full with waiting lists. Catholic education is in demand in South Florida.”  

Comments from readers

Liz Lantigua - 01/23/2025 11:24 AM
Go Bobcats! My alma mater is the best at preparing ethical leaders for our community! Great job Dr. Armstrong and Dr. Rigg!!!

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