Over 135 Lasallians met this week for the 2024 Lasallian Association of Secondary School Chief Administrators (LASSCA) conference, themed “Lifelong Lasallian Leaders: Reimagining Servant Leadership.” The gathering took place February 25-28, 2024, at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
Lasallians from across the Region reconnect during evening socials.
After the opening Mass on Sunday, the Brother Michael Collins Award of Excellence was awarded to Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) in Syracuse, New York, for their Bridge 2 CBA Brothers program, which is a four-week summer school immersion for rising 5th and 6th graders with daily classes, experiential learning and community building, all free of charge for students residing in the Syracuse City school district. CBA’s president Matthew Keough and principal Paul Gasparini accepted the award on the school’s behalf.
During Monday’s first keynote, award-winning teacher and principal, and internationally recognized educator Dr. Salome Thomas-EL discussed compassionate leadership and teacher retention. He focused on six key values of a resilient servant leadership: purpose, trust, accountability, support, growth and innovation.
Speaker Dr. Salome Thomas-EL greets Lasallians following his keynote address on resilient leadership.
Dr. EL’s emphasis on the intentional work of building relationships with not only students, but also faculty and staff, as well as his encouragement to allow for failure are two pieces that stood out to Azure’D Nunley, vice president of Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, California.
“(As educators), we’re charged with creating these cultures that support failure. It’s our job to make sure that our kids and our faculty and staff know that we’re all in this and failure is a part of it. But you’re in a supportive place to help you exercise that muscle, so that when you go on beyond us, it’s not something that’s foreign to you,” Nunley said.
Ed Bernot, principal of Saint John Paul II Academy in Boca Raton, Florida, remarked on Dr. EL’s comment that “in challenging times, the bravest act is choosing to stay.” That was a powerful place to start, Bernot said, since “as leaders we face so much adversity.”
Keynote speaker Father Aaron Wessman, GHM, discusses the challenges of polarization in schools.
During the afternoon keynote, Father Aaron Wessman, GHM, vicar general and director of formation for Glenmary Home Missioners, delved into the challenge of polarization in Catholic schools, especially as the presidential election approaches. He offered resources and practical solutions for fostering communion rooted in empathy and Catholic social teaching.
Melissa Dan, president of Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, Minnesota, said that she appreciated how Father Wessman “gave us tangible things that we could bring into our school tomorrow.”
She added, “I’m going to do a very similar listening session with my faculty and staff administrators. … ‘What are your challenges, hopes and fears?’ (It’s) a good place to start as we begin to get more in depth with the election cycle.”
Table discussions spark questions and collaboration among participants.
Dan also said that “mirroring” was one technique she could bring back to her students, who seem to struggle to hear one another now more than ever.
Dr. Jamie Brummer, principal of Christian Brother’s High School in Memphis, Tennessee, said Father Wessman’s invitation to think of “our ministries as being sacred spaces for our students” gave him “a sense of hope and a sense of optimism.”
Further conversation continued during Monday’s District meetings and Tuesday’s open forums between presidents, principals and board members across ministries. Breakout sessions explored topics such as artificial intelligence, enrollment growth, crisis communications and Lasallian formation for mission efforts.
Keynote speaker Dr. Scott Sorvaag (left) facilitates a panel discussion on the “futures” of Lasallian leadership.
On Tuesday, the final keynote speaker Dr. Scott Sorvaag, dean of Winona State University’s College of Education, emphasized the necessity of Lasallian leadership amid a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. “Lasallian leadership is a form of energy, not a position, not a role, not a place. It’s a form of energy that we direct. We humanize systems, structures, processes and organizations characterized by profound interiority,” he said.
Dr. Sorvaag then facilitated a discussion on adopting new leadership models, embracing discomfort through vulnerability, and navigating workplace culture and community as administrators. Panelists included: Cheri Broadhead, principal of Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, Minnesota; Roma Heaney, board chair of De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren, Michigan; and Alanna O’Brien, principal of La Salle Catholic College Preparatory in Milwaukie, Oregon.
(From left) 2024-2025 LASSCA vice president Joey Scaffidi, president Mona Passman and immediate past president Matthew Keough
Commenting on Dr. Sorvaag’s presentation, Dr. Christopher Themistos, principal of St. John’s College High School in Washington, DC, said, “I think the notion of servant leadership is what we all almost unconsciously gravitate toward … that’s our why.”
Tuesday morning’s business meeting welcomed the new 2024-2025 LASSCA officers. Matthew Keough completed his term as LASSCA president and now serves as immediate past president. Mona Passman, principal of Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota, completed her term as LASSCA vice president and now begins as president. Joey Scaffidi, AFSC, president of Christian Brothers School in New Orleans, was elected to LASSCA vice president this term. Dr. Melinda Lawlor Skrade, president of Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, California, was thanked for her year of service as immediate past president.
Conference sponsorship was provided by Christian Brothers Service; Christian Brothers Investment Services; FACTS Management; Flagstar Bank, N.A.; and Habeeb & Associates.
LASSCA’s 2025 conference will take place February 23-26, 2025, in Anaheim, California.