Renewed Vision: Boldly Catholic

A Statement from the Office of the Pastor of Divine Mercy Parish

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

A major sign of a healthy and developing Catholic school community is its capacity to renew itself. Such renewal involves critical reflection by the community on its essential purpose as it encounters constant change and new challenges, a review and validation of the authenticity of its practice, and a commitment to continuous improvement. The Catholic school is a “place of integral education of the human person through a clear educational project of which Christ is the foundation.”

In January of 2020, Meitler Consulting (www.meitler.com) received a request from the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of New Orleans to partner with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School to look strategically at the next level of success for the school by means of a long‐term plan. This planning process began in March 2021 with a mandate to create a plan that is visionary, mission-focused, comprehensive, realistic, achievable, and integrated – one organized around the four standards contained in the National Standards and Benchmarks of Effective Catholic Schools. The plan goals were created in light of the quantitative and qualitative data collected throughout the process.

Over the next five years, our strategic plan will serve as the foundation for our Renewed Vision: Boldly Catholic | Academically Excellent | Rooted in Truth at SEAS. Our strategic plan, with its objectives, goals, initiatives, and preferred vision, is a culmination of months of discernment and deliberation. As these strategic initiatives begin to unfold in the coming months and years, it will become clear that this roadmap has emerged from our mission to foster a relationship with Christ not only for the students and families at SEAS, but for all families in our parish.

As a critical component of this renewed vision and transformational journey, I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Joan Kathmann will take on the new title of Head of School at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School. This change in title represents an essential shift in the administrative structure of SEAS. This new position combines both the role of the outward facing entrepreneur and institution‐builder (President) with the inward‐facing champion of teaching, learning, and academic best practices (Principal). 

Under the direction of the Pastor, the Head of School is the primary leader of the school community and is responsible for promoting the mission, philosophy, values, and Catholic faith of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School. Collaborating with the newly created administrative team, the Head of School is responsible for ensuring a strong Catholic identity, a rich program of disciple and human formation, a rigorous and innovative academic curriculum, and the efficient and effective operation of all administrative functions in the school. The Head of School holds primary responsibility for providing personal and visible leadership for the school faculty, staff, students, and families on issues related to the mission, goals, and strategic initiatives of SEAS. 

As the Chief Executive Officer of the school, the Head of School works with the Pastor, the School Advisory Board, and the Office of Catholic Schools to develop strategic goals and initiatives for the SEAS community and then has the overall responsibility for the implementation of those goals and initiatives. The Head of School has primary responsibility for the management of SEAS and for providing leadership to its educational mission and values consistent with the Roman Catholic faith and the mission of Divine Mercy Parish.

As Joan notes: “For over thirty years, Catholic school ministry has been an important part of who I am. I’ve always felt that I was called to serve this wonderful community that I call home. The last fifteen years as Principal of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton have been some of the most rewarding years of my career. I am humbled and honored to continue in the new position as Head of School and am extremely excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for our students, families, faculty, and both our school and parish community.” 

“The implementation of this strategic plan will continue to set high standards which will set our students on the path to be successful Christian role models for our community. This new administrative structure, which is aligned with current best practices, will provide us with the opportunity to effectively implement the important goals and initiatives outlined in our comprehensive strategic plan. I am most grateful to Archbishop Aymond and Dr. RaeNell Houston for providing us with this opportunity for growth, and I am sincerely appreciative of the support and guidance of Fr. Cooper as we embark on this very important journey.”

I remain grateful to Joan for her years of dedicated service and leadership to our school and parish community. Please join me in praying for Joan as she leads us in the successful implementation of our strategic plan and continues to foster learning, growth, formation, and collaboration inside and outside the classroom. Over the coming weeks, Joan and I will be announcing the reorganization of the school’s administrative structure.  

Let us hold each other in prayer in this time of transition and new beginnings. 

Fr. Robert T. Cooper, Pastor
Divine Mercy Parish and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School