Photo courtesy of Jill Young, director of marketing and assistant director of development, Aberdeen Catholic School System.
By Katie Eskro
Ask almost anyone of any belief system, religion or political viewpoint today and most will tell you they think the world is in a dark era. A quick look at statistics like homelessness, anxiety, depression and children without stable homes and the proof solidifies quickly.
While the issues at play are complex and not fixed by just one response, any political or religious entity taking the progress of humanity seriously and wanting to lift our society out of the pit it is falling into would be remiss to not consider our educational system. Again, a quick look with a practiced eye, a studied mind and wise intellect will know that the way we are educating our children too often is not leading them toward fulfillment, joy and, ultimately, God.
Our bishop and our diocese have recognized the challenge of our times and many are vigorously working to give our young people a firmer foundation of truth, beauty and goodness. Across our diocese and nation, schools and educators are quietly forming the hearts and minds of our young people in ways that should give all of us hope and confidence in God’s plan.
The challenge
Tammy Kost, principal of Roncalli Primary and Elementary schools in Aberdeen, says that “Leading a Catholic school in 2025 is both deeply rewarding and uniquely challenging.” Tammy identified three key challenges that the school is striving to meet.
One of the challenges Tammy and her teachers have noticed in their time as educators is that children’s ability to focus and stay attentive has diminished in recent years.
“Many of our students spend a large portion of their time on screens, while we intentionally use limited technology in our classrooms,” Tammy says. “As a result, we often see students entering school with shorter attention spans than in previous years.”
Additionally, Tammy noted the amount of extracurriculars that students attend has increased greatly in recent years, even for very young students. While there are many positives to sports and other activities outside of school, children can become exhausted and overwhelmed if they are involved in too many things.
Tammy says this can lead to “fatigue and distraction during the school day.” In addition, if a child is over-involved in competitive activities, she notes that, “Even at a young age, students may begin to measure their worth through performance or achievement rather than through their identity as children of God.”
A third challenge Tammy identifies is the “why” behind parents’ decision to enroll their child in a Catholic school. Private school numbers have increased in recent years, somewhat due to the state of the world, and while this is a positive thing, it can be difficult to help parents enter into a truly Catholic education experience for their children if they’re simply looking for something different than traditional education.
“One of the ongoing challenges we face is discerning whether families choose Catholic education because they truly desire a faith-based formation for their children, or because they are seeking an alternative to other schooling options,” Tammy says. “In other words, are they running ‘to’ what we offer, or ‘away’ from something else?”
An important part of a Catholic school’s mission then is instilling in the families a strong sense of what a Catholic education is and winning the hearts and minds of parents to be coworkers with the school in forming children to be lifelong Catholic disciples for Jesus.
“The Church reminds us that parents are the first educators of their children, and our role as a school is to support them in that sacred responsibility,” Tammy says. This can be difficult to do if there’s a disconnect between the parents and educators in the why and how of the educational method used in a Catholic school.
The response
At Roncalli and parochial schools throughout the diocese, an awakening and revitalization is happening in response to Bishop DeGrood’s desire for a renewal of Catholic education in eastern South Dakota. Schools are welcoming the Institute of Catholic Liberal Arts (ICLE) to help form and invest in teachers who work in Catholic schools in order to meet the demands of the times in which our students live.
The ICLE educational method isn’t a curriculum but rather a framework and methodology for teachers to bring into their classroom. The goal of ICLE is to foster an educational experience for children that helps them to develop fully and to pursue truth through logic and reasoning. It constantly points students toward the ultimate reality and truth—Jesus, regardless of whether a student is studying math, English, science, music, etc. A Catholic liberal education “liberates” (or sets students free) to choose the good and a path that follows God’s will for their lives.
“Through this collaboration [with ICLE],” Tammy says, “teachers are learning instructional methods designed to form students as thoughtful, curious seekers of truth, grounding their intellectual exploration in faith. Even in the early stages of this renewal, teachers are witnessing richer classroom discussions and students rising to meet higher expectations. This is not just a renewal of curriculum; it is a renewal of hearts, a revival of mission, and a transformation of our entire school culture.”
At Roncalli, Tammy says they have also developed Catholic identity standards to help them stay focused on their mission of “instilling Catholic values and promoting academic excellence by nurturing mind, body and soul.” They also incorporate virtue studies for students, and teachers and students alike grow alongside one another toward God through the virtue curriculum, weekly Mass and visits from priests, and adoration.
Though it may not be obvious at first glance at Roncalli and Catholic schools throughout our diocese, hope is being rekindled through the minds and hearts of our young people who are learning to seek truth and encountering God on a daily basis through their education and their teachers and classmates.
Tammy has great excitement and hope for the future of Roncalli and Catholic education. “I envision a transformed Roncalli, where faith flows seamlessly through every classroom, every conversation and every experience,” Tammy says. “The entire school community radiates joy, purpose and a shared commitment to Christ, forming hearts and minds prepared to impact the world with love, wisdom and service.”
Writer Callout: Katie Eskro is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aberdeen, where she works as coordinator of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She has a degree in journalism and is pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy.
