The Lasallian Association of Secondary School Chief Administrators (LASSCA) held its 16th annual conference February 23-26, 2020, at the JW Marriott Houston by The Galleria in Houston, Texas. School administrators, board members, District and Regional leaders and others gathered to discuss topics related to this year’s theme, “Sustaining Excellence in Lasallian Leadership.”
Conference attendees gather at the Tuesday night social.
Kerry Conroy, principal of LaSalle Academy in New York, New York, shared how valuable she found her time at LASSCA to be. “I always enjoy coming to LASSCA because of the networking, the connection to the greater Lasallian community, and the valuable information I gain on current issues affecting our students. I know that I can reach out to any one of the attendees at any time as a source of support and a wealth of information!”
The conference included keynote speakers, breakout sessions, discussion, Mass and prayer, District dinners and the presentation of the Brother Michael Collins Award of Excellence to Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, California, for its Inclusive Community Initiative.
Dr. Peter Imperial, principal of Saint Mary’s College High School, accepted the award on the school’s behalf. Commenting on the Inclusive Community Initiative, he remarked, “We have been working with the Inclusive Community Initiative, developing it for five years. We are breaking down misunderstandings, giving a voice to those that are not heard. Saint Mary’s College High School wants to engage the whole community, by building empathy and understanding.”
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The first full day of the conference began with prayer and a keynote address entitled “Lasallian Education: Following in the Footsteps of the Greats” by Reverend James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., president of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Father Burns shared his perceptions of the many wonderful things taking place in our collective educational ministries. The participants were placed in groups according to the role at their ministry across District lines to discuss what they took away from the keynote address.
The rest of the day was filled with District meetings, opportunities to visit exhibitors and open forums. District dinners took place in the evening.
Dr. Tim Uhl, superintendent, Montana Catholic Schools in Helena, Montana, presenting his keynote address, “Finding a Way.”
On Tuesday morning, participants gathered for prayer, followed by the LASSCA business meeting, which included the election of Melinda Lawlor Skrade, Ph.D., president of Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, California, as LASSCA vice president. Skrade joins fellow officers, James Benson, principal of De LaSalle High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who moved to the role of LASSCA president, and Brother John Kane, FSC, president of Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore, Maryland, who moved to immediate past president.
After the meeting, a keynote address was given by Dr. Tim Uhl, superintendent of Montana Catholic Schools in Helena, Montana. His speech was entitled “Finding a Way.” Drawing on his experience as a school and system leader, Dr. Uhl linked Gospel stories to the challenge of leading the doubtful who often doubt the leaders.
Tuesday afternoon featured two rounds of concurrent breakout sessions. Session topics included a comprehensive approach to enrollment management, amplifying the message of excellence for your Lasallian ministry, orchestrating conflict, transformative trends rooted in mission, succession planning in leadership, setting yourself apart and more.
LASSCA officers, from left, Brother John Kane, FSC, president, Melinda Lawlor Skrade, Ph.D., vice president, and James Benson, immediate past president
Frank Miley, president of Cretin-Derham Hall in Saint Paul, Minnesota, gained new insight from the breakout sessions. “My biggest two takeaways this year came from the breakout sessions, financial sustainability and enrollment management. The information and resources are data-driven and innovative. I look forward to showing these to everyone when I get back to school.”
LASSCA 2020 wrapped up on Wednesday with a final keynote address entitled “¡P’alante! Together We Can Do Great Things” by Melodie Wyttenbach, Ph.D., executive director of Roche Center for Catholic Education Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
The next LASSCA Conference will take place February 28-March 3, 2021, at the Rosen Plaza in Orlando, Florida.
Search #LASSCA2020 on Twitter and Facebook for more photos and highlights from this year’s conference.