Fr. Mark Payne Institute Symposium

Fr. Edwin Leahy, O.S.B. ‘63, the 50-year Headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep, will introduce the School’s educational model and its four pillars: community development, student leadership, socio-emotional health and experiential education.

“Give up what you want for what we need!” Being supportive of, accountable to, and responsible for others, allows a community to grow and thrive. Unfortunately, our education system stresses individual success and achievement at the expense of, or independent from, others. In other words, our education system focuses on ‘I’ - community focuses on ‘we’. Experience the power that comes from students and adults focusing on ‘we’.

“You can’t educate the mind if the heart is broken.” Emotional noise clouds the hearts and minds of many of our young people today. Despite the wide-spread calls for more attention to socioemotional health, it is evident that commonplace educational practices do not uphold this ideal. See the benefits of cutting through the emotional noise and eliminating the stigma associated with tending to mental health.

“Don’t do for students what students can do for themselves.” Students can and will rise to challenges when given the opportunity. Students will also make mistakes and learn how to fix them when they are provided with the space and support to do so. In the age of snow-plow parents and high-stakes testing, our education system does not allow students to rise to many challenges (other than academically) and certainly is afraid to let them make mistakes. You’ll notice the difference when you put real responsibility in the hands of students and what it means for adults to step back while students step up.

“The only easy day was yesterday.” Opportunities beyond the classroom allow students to put their learning into practice. These shared experiences also allow students to form life-long bonds with others. The current educational model is heavily focused on curriculum guidelines, and less on the true needs of our young people. Feel the power in creating shared experiences which challenge students beyond their comfort zones.

Fr. Mark Payne Institute Director, Glenn Cassidy, Ed.D. and student Fellows.

Practical tips on ways the Fr. Mark Payne Institute can be of support to schools moving forward as well as closing thoughts on the power of this model.

Opportunities to sit with other Faculty/Administrators from St. Benedict’s Prep to understand some of the logistical challenges and how to apply this model to elementary and middle school grades.