Father Thomas Bortz, pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Reading, Pennsylvania, is an avid baseball fan, having visited several major and minor leagues parks across the country. Fr. Bortz just has to walk out the back door of the rectory and be reminded of the challenge facing his parish’s regional Catholic school. In what amounts to a long outfield-to-home-plate throw away, sits a local public elementary school.
While Father Bortz knows his school continues to deliver All-Star-level academics and top-tier Catholic formation, he also knows he’s in a tough ballgame. Across the field and across the country, public schools are loading their lineup with higher starting salaries. And Catholic schools are struggling to match up on the payroll scoreboard. It’s a high-stakes contest, and right now, too many faith-filled educators are being lured to the other dugout.
To start leveling the playing field and attract and retain all-star teaching talent, St. Ignatius has created the St. Ignatius Loyola Teacher Excellence Endowment Fund with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania.
St. Ignatius Loyola Teacher Excellence Endowment Fund
“In order to recruit new teachers, and to retain our best teachers, we have to offer competitive salaries,” Father Bortz said.
Teacher excellence funds are set up to provide annual honorariums to recognize the outstanding work and tireless effort performed by all full-time Diocesan classroom teachers (K-8) and pre-school teachers. Many of these funds also provide support for professional development for all faculty at the school.
“Our graduates tell us that their success in life would not have been possible without the loyal and dedicated teachers that taught them at St. Ignatius,” Father. Bortz said.
Father Bortz was quick to point out that a part of the playbook of the Catholic Church is to educate its youth.
Pete Waldron, President of the Catholic Foundation or Eastern Pennsylvania, agrees.
“Catholic education is the largest evangelization effort for any parish,” Waldron said. “The proper introduction and ongoing formation efforts in developing our young people into solid Catholic citizens is critical for the future of the Catholic faith.”
Father Bortz believes a solid teacher excellence fund will help St. Ignatius Regional School keep top teachers on its roster to fulfill the essential outcomes of a Catholic school education: “Foster moral development, create a sense of community, and develop an active, personal relationship with our Lord.”
Getting the fund set up is just the first play. Father Bortz and his team are ready to play ball and to begin building up the fund.
“With the ongoing growth of this fund, our teachers will know their efforts in the classroom are appreciated,” Father Bortz said. “And, in the end, our students will benefit – along with the community and the future of the Church.”
In Father Bortz’s playbook, that would be a grand slam homerun.
Teacher Excellence Funds Keep Catholic Teachers in the Game
St. Ignatius Loyola Regional School in Reading is the fifth school to create a Teacher Excellence Endowment Fund managed by the Catholic Foundation. The other four schools include:
Teacher Excellence Endowment Funds keep our best teachers in the classroom — where they belong. With public schools offering higher salaries, we need your help to keep faith-filled educators on our roster, forming young minds and hearts in Christ.
Imagine if every Catholic School had their own Teacher Excellence Fund.
Talk to the Catholic Foundation about building a future full of All-Star teachers and strong Catholic students for your favorite Catholic school.
