By Sara Michaelson, diocesan Superintendent of Schools
On August 11, approximately 180 teachers, principals and Catholic school educators from across the Diocese of St. Cloud came together virtually for the Office of Catholic Schools’ Summer Summit, a day dedicated to professional learning, collaboration and preparing for the year ahead.
The Summer Summit was created in response to something the Office of Catholic Schools hears frequently when visiting schools: finding quality professional development that meets the required categories of the Minnesota Department of Education for teacher licensure renewal can be challenging. With busy school schedules and limited professional development opportunities tailored specifically to Catholic educators, teachers and principals often have to search in multiple places to find meaningful learning that also fulfills licensure requirements.
This year, the Office of Catholic Schools took that challenge upon itself.
The Summer Summit brought together knowledgeable presenters to offer 18 sessions covering a wide variety of topics connected to teaching, learning, leadership, Catholic identity, student support, and professional growth. Sessions included topics such as creating meaningful staff and student retreats, preparing children for Mass, supporting diverse learners, positive behavior strategies, safety and security, preschool education, multilingual learners, the Science of Reading, Catholic identity, Indigenous Minnesota, prayer journaling and using NotebookLM as a tool for teachers.
The variety of sessions was intentional. The goal was not simply to provide professional development hours, but to offer learning that educators could take directly back to their classrooms, schools and faith communities.
For Catholic educators, professional development is about more than checking a box for licensure renewal. It is an opportunity to grow in knowledge and skills, reflect on the work they do each day and consider how their professional practice contributes to the mission of Catholic education.
A teacher from St. Mary’s shared her appreciation for having these opportunities available in one place, saying, “Thank you so much for providing the Summer Summit training. All of the Zoom meetings I have attended so far have been well worth my time, specifically ‘Our Story’ and ‘Indigenous Minnesota.’ I appreciate the opportunity to complete the required courses for license renewal all in one place. I hope this is a format and structure that you will continue to offer in future years!”
The feedback from participants reflected the value of having a dedicated day focused on their professional growth. One teacher from Holy Trinity shared, “I feel every session has been extremely well done!”
A principal also appreciated the opportunity to bring staff together for meaningful learning, “It was wonderful to have a dedicated day for professional development, with a variety of sessions that offered meaningful opportunities for everyone on staff to grow professionally. I especially appreciate the PD sessions that help us meet licensure requirements while providing useful, relevant learning connected to our work in Catholic education.”
The Summer Summit also provided an opportunity for educators from different schools to learn alongside one another and begin the school year connected to the broader Catholic school community. While the event was virtual, the shared experience reminded participants that they are part of something much larger than their individual classrooms and schools.
As a new school year begins, the Office of Catholic Schools is grateful to the presenters who generously shared their time, expertise, and passion with Catholic school educators. Their willingness to contribute to the professional growth of teachers and principals helped make the Summer Summit a meaningful start to the 2026–27 school year.