On Purpose

"Rising very early before dawn, Jesus left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, 'Everyone is looking for you.'

Jesus told them, 'Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.' So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee."

-Mark 1:35-39

At times, we can do things without purpose. This isn't to say that what we're doing isn't worthwhile. Instead, because of the busyness of our roles, we can fall into the trap of doing tasks just to get them done. We can drift into auto-pilot to enhance our efficiency. We can hurry from one thing to another to another - and do these things really well - but without intentionality.

This can lead to the urgent infringing upon - and supplanting - the sacredness of the important.

Let's reclaim the purpose(s) for which we have been called to our various roles.

The new calendar year along with the new semester afford us with opportunities to reorient ourselves and our communities to these core purposes of our Catholic leadership positions and our schools.

As you consider your schedule and its many demands, put the big things in first. Short of an emergency - which you should define and clarify for yourselves and your community - note those big items you will hold sacred. These might include time for prayer, classroom observations and/or meeting with teachers, meetings with your leadership team(s), cultivation/stewardship activities, preparing a presentation for an event, and time with students and families.

Periodically put your to-do lists through the following rubric:

• Do
• Delegate
• Dump
• You could also add a fourth category, delay, though it should be used sparingly lest it become the default category.

Audit your and your school's practices for alignment to the mission, beliefs, values/pillars/charisms. What activities, programs, events, and tasks have veered away from these foundational parts of our schools? What aspects need some tightening through reminders, renewed administrative presence, and/or a (re)declaration of the purpose of these behaviors? What needs adjusted so that it can remain? What should you remove altogether because it no longer advances the mission of the school, doesn't align with the school's beliefs, and/or fails to stem from or make manifest the school's values/pillars/charisms?

Consider the profile of a Catholic school leader in the Diocese of Cleveland and focus on embodying and employing these traits: missionary, visionary, strategic, collaborative, analytical, professional. Purposefully think of ways in which each of these traits can apply to your leadership actions - how can you point people back to the mission, how can you inspire them and provide a sense of hope, how can you devise a solid plan, how can you include others, how can you analyze what's been done, how can you use it as a chance to model and elevate excellence?

Like Jesus, who reminded His disciples about His purpose, let us explicitly state and remind others why we do the things we do.

Finally, as we strive to lead and live on purpose, recognize that Jesus created you on purpose. Through our baptisms, He has set you apart and called you to this leadership role at this time in your respective schools on purpose. As we view our purposes through this lens of faith, we should consider this purpose holy - set apart by God for His purpose.

On purpose. For God.

Make It Count

Governor Mike DeWine addressed the Catholic school offices from across the state of Ohio in early December. One of his messages to us centered on his time left in office, which at that point stood at about 390 days. He recounted that he has a countdown clock on his desk that displays how much time remains for him as governor of our state.

His point in conveying this idea to this group of educators was that he is trying to do as much good as he can in the time that he has remaining.

This concept resonated with me. It made me consider the urgency with which we need to act for the good of the students and families in our communities.

It made me realize that our countdown for each student is 720 days.

That number represents the maximum amount of time that we have to form students in our high schools. The actual number of days a student who spends all four years in our organizations probably clocks in well below that figure once you account for absences, 1/2 days, and other ways that our annual academic calendars come in at under 180 instructional days.

720 days.

For our current 9th graders, that number has already dwindled to about 630. For the Classes of 2026, we have less than 90.

While change done well takes time, we must bring it about within our schools with a sense of compassionate and purposeful urgency. Not frenetic. Not chaotic or even hurried.

Compassionate and purposeful urgency. Methodical. Strategic. Inspirational.

Mission-aligned. Rooted in and stemming from our beliefs, values, charisms and/or pillars.

After all, 2026 is already down to 364 days. Well, actually 363. Sorry. 

As we begin a new year, let us act with a sense of determination to do as much good as we possibly can for each of the students in our care. The clock keeps ticking and its stock is limited. Waiting until next year, or next quarter, or next month, or even next week may not be good enough for all of our students.

Consider one way in which we can positively impact each of the four classes within our schools. How might we purposefully allow our seniors to more intentionally be impacted by our missions? How can we leverage the second semester for our juniors to set them up for 12th grade success? What can be done to shake sophomores out of a second semester slump? Even though we have the most time left with 9th graders, what programming could we implement to round out their first year in our schools?

The countdown continues.

Let's make it count.