SNDdeN School Leaders Conference: Educate ~ Empower ~ Transform

Last week, school leaders and their senior leadership teams from the U.S. East-West and Ohio Provinces of the SNDdeN network gathered in Cincinnati for the annual SNDdeN School Leaders Conference. The event featured two engaging keynote sessions, thought-provoking workshops, tours of the Ohio Province Center, including the Sister Dorothy Stang Room and Museum, Photovoltaic Learning Lab and Mount Notre Dame High School, and meaningful opportunities for collaboration.

Sister Patricia O’Brien, SNDdeN, opened the conference with an inspiring keynote, Shay: A Story of Leadership, emphasizing Gospel values and the transformative leadership principles of St. Julie. Dr. Marcus Mescher, Associate Professor at Xavier University, followed with an enlightening session, Unpacking the Theology Behind the Hallmarks, exploring how the Hallmarks connect Catholic social teaching and Notre Dame’s charism to modern education.

Workshops covered various topics, including global exchange programs, preparing the next generation of Catholic school leaders, the Social Justice Capstone project and practical insights on fostering international partnerships.

The conference concluded with a renewed sense of our shared mission and purpose as leaders departed with actionable strategies, deeper connections and a collective commitment to advancing the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur’s values in their learning communities.

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