The Philadelphia School Partnership (PSP) has awarded $150,000 to support strategic planning at Ss. Neumann-Goretti Catholic High School in Philadelphia. "Opportunities to create great eduational outcomes for low-income students exist in schools of all types across the city," said Jessica Pena, director of the Great Schools Fund at PSP. "We are particularly excited to support innovative approaches to improving student outcomes at the high school level that are grounded in a strong academic program." 

Earlier this year Neumann-Goretti's president, Bruce Robinson announced that the school will introduce the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship with innovative full-year academic programming in September 2015. This new magnet academy, a school within a school, will give students the opportunity to experience real life challenges and prepare for success in both college and the global marketplace. The intent is to provide innovation in educational programming. The magnet academy will be one of several aspects that the PSP planning grant will address. Robinson's plan was recently featured in the February edition of Philadelphia Magazine click here for the full article. 

"We are excited to be joining with the Philadelphia School Partnership to bring an exciting new educational vision to Neumann-Goretti," said Robinson. "This grant will enable us to create a new model for learning through innovation and entrepreneurship that will benefit both our present and future students." 

In 2013, PSP made a $600,000 planning grant to support the growth strategy of Faith in the Future and its investments to build out the Office of Catholic Education.

BROTHER RICHARD KESTLER RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION 

Congratulations to Brother Richard Kestler, FSC, president of West Catholic Preparatory High School in Philadelphia. Brother Richard received the 2015 Educational Excellence Award from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) for his dedication and commitment to excellence. The awardees chosen from more than 100,000 educators who serve in the nation's Catholic secondary schools were recognized during the annual NCEA Convention & Expo that took place this month in Orlando, Fla. 

In recent years, Brother Richard's achievements as president of West Catholic Preparatory High School have taken a school that was recommended for closure and transformed it into a school on a path for growth. West Catholic provides the highest quality education possible in one of the most underserved sections of the city. "Visionary leaders like Brother Richard make it possible for Faith in the Future to attract more investors who believe in our growth strategy to strengthen Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia," said Casey Carter, CEO of Faith in the Future, "He is singularly deserving of this honor."

"I am honored to receive this award and I accept it in the name of countless others who have worked so hard to continue the good work of their local Catholic school," said Brother Richard. "The mission of all Catholic educators is simply to touch the hearts of their students so that they might be open to the message and instructions of their Lord. Effective teachers are instruments and He is the conductor of a great orchestra." Brother Richard continues to share his passion for faith and learning with the students of West Catholic.

FINAL NOTE

Saints Neumann-Goretti and West Catholic are two of the Catholic high schools managed by Faith in the Future, eight of which are located in the city of Philadelphia. Faith in the Future works in partnership with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to make a first-rate, Catholic education available to all families that desire it. Faith in the Future manages 17 high schools and four schools of special education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and is in partnership with Mercy Vocational High School, the only vocational Catholic high school in the United States.