The Beauty of Working at a Catholic school
Originally published on www.anchornews.org
By Sandi Duxbury
Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment, Diocese of Fall River Catholic Schools Office
Victoria Raposo, a second grade teacher at St. Teresa of Calcutta School in New Bedford, oversees the work of students in her classroom.
Across the Diocese of Fall River, Catholic schools are united in a shared mission: to be intentionally guided by the Word of Christ and to affirm the foundational truth that every student is created, loved, and made in God’s image and likeness (Gen 1:26). This belief is not simply a theological statement; it is the lens through which all teaching, learning, and formation take place. When education is approached in this way, it transforms the classroom into something deeper than an academic environment. It becomes a place where both students and educators are formed intellectually, spiritually, and personally.
In Catholic schools, education is never reduced to the transfer of knowledge alone. It is about shaping hearts and minds for a greater purpose.
As Brett Salkeld, Ph.D., author of Educating for Eternity, explains, “An education, in the end, is more about formation than about information. Our job as Catholic educators is to form students, inside and outside of the class, into people who know that they are made for greatness and understand what true greatness is; people who believe in the possibility of a good life and are cultivating the virtues needed to live in it; people who are willing and able, even eager, to sacrifice lower goods for higher ones.”
This vision of education elevates the role of the teacher. Catholic school educators are not only instructors; they are mentors, witnesses, and companions on a journey of faith and discovery. They help foster a culture where curiosity is encouraged and where students are invited to seek truth, beauty, and goodness in all aspects of God’s creation. In these classrooms, learning is infused with wonder, and academic subjects are connected to a larger understanding of life’s meaning and purpose.
At the heart of this work is a commitment to nurturing the whole person. Catholic educators strive to kindle joy and hope in their students while instilling virtues that extend beyond this life into eternity. They help young people discover their God-given gifts and talents, encouraging them to use those gifts in service to others. In doing so, they prepare students not only for success in the world, but for lives of meaning, generosity, and faith.
This mission also profoundly shapes the experience of the educators themselves. Teaching in a Catholic school offers a unique sense of purpose that goes beyond a typical profession. It is a vocation rooted in service and community, where faith is lived out daily through relationships, example, and shared values. Teachers are called to be authentic witnesses of Christ, modeling compassion, integrity, and love in their interactions with students and colleagues alike.
“From a recruitment standpoint, our Catholic schools have many wonderful opportunities for people to give of their time and talent, but even more so, there is great value in what you get in return,” said Daniel Roy, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Fall River.
“The beauty of working at our Catholic schools is that there is such a diverse background of professionals who bring different skills, experiences, and knowledge to our school communities. What we continually see is the way in which our teachers find a sense of community and faith-based purpose in educating students spiritually, academically, and emotionally that were not apparent in previous work experiences. This is what Catholic schools are so well-known for and what we continually strive to be.” Roy said.
In a world often focused on achievement alone, Catholic schools offer something richer: a vision of education that opens the mind, transforms the heart, and ignites the soul. For those called to this work, the rewards are profound. Educators not only help bring students closer to Jesus Christ, but often find their own faith deepened in the process.
For those interested in becoming part of this mission, current opportunities within the Diocese of Fall River Catholic schools can be found at www.catholicschoolsalliance.org/job-opportunities.