20-21 Diversified Learners Committee Updates and Schedule

Diversified Learners Committee is #igniting hope this new school year! With the wisdom of our co-chair, Dan Sherman, Principal, St. Paul School, we have been working on various items since June. Due to the nature of this year, we are offering regular DLC check-ins monthly via zoom.

As a few of you know, our surprise this summer was that Dr. Michael Boyle, Executive Director of the Andrew Greeley Center, Loyola Chicago, accepted the position as new Superintendent for the Diocese of Joliet. Needless to say, our new initiative, The Matthew Project, is formally on hold as Loyola and OCS are determining if it is feasible for Loyola to still be our partner on this initiative.

Covid-19 has provided us new challenges and opportunities since spring 2020, and one key reality was the significant need for mental health resources support for all stakeholders. The blessing has been the activation of the SEL school counselors, a key component of the structure of the DLC. Special thank you to Katie Denniston, Our Lady of the Lake School, Christy Hunt, Assumption-St. Bridget School, and Dane Stringfellow, Archbishop Murphy High School for their leadership serving on the archdiocesan Mental Health Ministry Committee (MHMC) as well as chairing the the SEL Elementary Counselors group and the SEL HS Counselors group this year.

Respectfully,

Sandra Barton Smith at sandra.smith@seattlearch.org

Dan Sherman at dsherman@seattlestpaul.org