Honors for BC's Roche Center for Catholic Education
The Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education has received the Dr. Karen M. Ristau Innovations Award from the National Catholic Educational Association, presented at the NCEA convention in April. The annual honor recognizes an individual, school or initiative that has advanced the mission of Catholic education through an inventive approach or program.
Roche Center Executive Director Melodie Wyttenbach (Caitlin Cunningham)
The Lynch School of Education and Human Development-based Roche Center builds on more than a half-century of research, teaching, and outreach to develop vibrant and revitalized models for the future of Catholic pre-K to 12 education.
鈥淭he dynamic Roche Center team, inspired by the Jesuit tradition of the magis, bridges the gap between academic research and classroom practice,鈥� according to NCEA. 鈥淏y fostering a global network of scholars and practitioners, the team ensures that Catholic education remains a vibrant apostolate of hope in a changing world.鈥�
NCEA is the world鈥檚 largest, private professional education association. With over 140,00 educators serving 1.6 million Catholic education students, NCEA supports the ongoing faith formation and the teaching mission of the Catholic Church. The Ristau Innovations Award is named for NCEA鈥檚 former president, who had devoted her entire career to generating fresh insights and creative advances in Catholic schooling.
NCEA Executive Director Steve Cheesman 鈥渟hared that his team unanimously felt the center deserved this recognition,鈥� said Roche Center Executive Director Melodie Wyttenbach. 鈥淲e are humbled to receive this award, as it鈥檚 a testament to the shared passion of our entire staff, and it honors both the individual dedication and the collective spirit poured into our mission every day.鈥�
The center translates its purpose into action by conducting high-impact research, and executing an expansive set of programs designed for leaders and teachers, including a suite of initiatives focused on strengthening the pipeline of executives for the Catholic school system.听 Its Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools, a national initiative that assists schools transitioning to dual-language immersion models, supports students in becoming bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.
鈥淲e are thrilled that the Roche Center for Catholic Education was recognized with the Ristau Innovations Award,鈥� said Stanton E.F. Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, S.J., Dean of the Lynch School. 鈥淭he center is doing outstanding work supporting Catholic schools across the country and internationally. It's great to see NCEA recognize the creativity, energy, and impact that the center鈥檚 team delivers.鈥�
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