Mercy Education System of the Americas (MESA) Overview

1. Mercy Education System of the Americas (MESA)Overview Leadership Orientation September 11 and 13

2. History • ILC appointed Steering Committee • Recommendation • ILC Approval • Mercy Education Project • July 1, 2017 – MESA opens

3. MESA Structure Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Silver Spring, MD Sister Patricia McDermott (President), Sister Patricia Flynn (Vice President), Sister Judith Frikker, Sister Áine O’Connor and Sister Anne Marie Miller The ILT holds the reserved powers in relationship to the Mercy Education System of the Americas (MESA) board and has retained some reserved powers in relationship to the education ministries.

4. MESA Structure Mercy Education System of the Americas Board of Directors Michele Aronica, RSM Richard Mary Burke, RSM, Chair Peg D’Agostino Denny Ferra Michelle Gorman, RSM David Levy Eileen Quinn-Knight Tom Ruthemeyer Pat Smith, RSM Deborah Troillett, RSM Bill Valade The MESA board holds the delegated reserved powers in relationship to the education ministries.

5. MESA Structure Mercy Sponsored Education Ministry Board of Directors The local board relates to the MESA board for all reserved powers.

6. MESA Structure Mercy Education System of the Americas Office Sr. Lisa Griffith, Executive Director Kimberly Baxter, Associate Director for Programs and Services Sr. Regina Ward, Associate Director for Mercy Mission Integration Jennifer Lasseter, Executive Assistant MESA staff facilitates the relationship between the education ministry and the MESA board. The MESA staff also provides programs and services to ensure our Mercy mission and Catholic identity.

7. MESA Structure Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Silver Spring, MD Sister Patricia McDermott (President), Sister Patricia Flynn (Vice President), Sister Judith Frikker, Sister Áine O’Connor and Sister Anne Marie Miller The ILT holds the reserved powers in relationship to the Mercy Education System of the Americas (MESA) board and has retained some reserved powers in relationship to the education ministries. Mercy Education System of the Americas Board of Directors Michele Aronica, RSM Richard Mary Burke, RSM, Chair Peg D’Agostino Denny Ferra Michelle Gorman, RSM David Levy Eileen Quinn-Knight Tom Ruthemeyer Pat Smith, RSM Deborah Troillett, RSM Bill Valade The MESA board holds the delegated reserved powers in relationship to the education ministries. Mercy Education System of the Americas Office Sr. Lisa Griffith, Executive Director Kimberly Baxter, Associate Director for Programs and Services Sr. Regina Ward, Associate Director for Mercy Mission Integration Jennifer Lasseter, Executive Assistant MESA staff facilitates the relationship between the education ministry and the MESA board. The MESA staff also provides programs and services to ensure our Mercy mission and Catholic identity. Mercy Sponsored Education Ministry Board of Directors The local board relates to the MESA board for all reserved powers.

8. Why MESA • Help to ensure Catholic Identity and Mercy Mission into the future • Collaboration • Support • Best thinking • Global perspective

9. Reserved Powers • Reserved Powers. In addition to all matters required by law or by other provisions of these By-Laws to be approved by the Member of the corporation, MESA may initiate and implement any proposal with respect to any of the following, and, if any proposal with respect to any of the following is otherwise initiated, it shall not become effective unless approved by MESA. • To adopt or change the mission, purpose, philosophy or objectives of the corporation or to change the general structure of the operation of the corporation as a voluntary non-profit corporation for education. • To amend the corporation’s charter, certificate or articles of incorporation, or By-Laws; • To dissolve, divide, convert, liquidate or wind up the corporation, or consolidate or merge the corporation with another corporation or entity; • To create any subsidiary corporation; • To sell all or substantially all the assets of the corporation.

10. Reserved Powers • Reserved Powers. In addition to all matters required by law or by other provisions of these By-Laws to be approved by the Member of the corporation, MESA may initiate and implement any proposal with respect to any of the following, and, if any proposal with respect to any of the following is otherwise initiated, it shall not become effective unless approved by MESA. • To elect members of the Board of the corporation upon recommendation of the Board of Directors; • To remove, with or without cause, members of the Board of Directors; • To ratify a candidate nominated by the Board of Directors as the chief executive officer of the corporation. • To approve any encumbrance of assets of the corporation in excess of the limits determined and promulgated from time to time by MESA.

11. Mission Integration • How do Catholic Identity and Mercy Mission/Charism impact life at ______ School? • Spiritual • Academic • Extra-curricular • Co-curricular • Administrative and Governance • Hiring, Policy, Finances

12. Mission Integration • Mercy Accreditation • 2 Standards • Catholic Identity • Mercy Mission/Charism • Consideration of the Catholic Identity Accreditating body in the diocese, if there is one

13. Mission Integration • Characteristics of Catholic Identity • Curriculum • Mature Relationship with faith and ultimately Jesus Christ and his mission • Religious Instruction as Evangelization but not coercion • Integrates Faith into Culture through Learning • Common Good • Sisters of Mercy Critical Concerns

14. Mission Integration • Mercy Mission and Charism • Through the lens of the Mission of the Sisters of Mercy • Critical Concerns • Chapter Document • Direction Statement • Life and values of Catherine McAuley

15. Programs and Services

16. Mercy Education Conference • The first conference was held in 1981 • Mercy Secondary Education Association provided the locus of sharing between and among Mercy secondary educators, with a purpose of collaboration, sharing, and furthering the charism of Mercy • Network for Mercy Education was formed in 1999 and in 2010 the education conference came under the auspices of the Network primarily to provide support services. • In 2013, members of the Mercy Elementary Education Network (MEEN) joined the education conference • In 2016 the conference celebrated its 35th anniversary • The conference has been, and will continue to be planned by a Mercy Secondary Education Conference Committee (MSECC)

17. Mercy Education Conference 2017 • When: October 13-14, 2017 • Where: Omaha, Nebraska at the Embassy Suites • Host: Mercy High School-Omaha • Theme: Mercy Responds: Who is my Neighbor? • Keynote Speaker: Deirdre Mullan, RSM ANNUAL ADMINISTRATOR MEETING • Held on the day before the Annual Education Conference

18. Mercy Education Leadership Forum •  The primary purpose of this forum is to bring together our educational administrators and board leaders to receive input and to dialogue with one another on matters concerning Mercy mission and Catholic identity.  • This year’s forum will be held on Thursday, March 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.

19. New Leader Orientation Program • All new leaders, whether school administrator and/or board chair, will participate in this orientation program for the next two years. • Presentations and Speakers • Mercy Mission and Charism-Mary Sullivan, RSM • November 6 and 8 • Evaluations-Carolyn Jaworski • December 4 and 6 • Governance-Margaret Taylor, RSM • February 5 and 7 • Best Board Practices-Mary Waskowiak, RSM • April 9 and 11 • “Partners in Ministry” Leadership Academy • July 23-24, 2018, Baltimore, MD

20. Cohort Groups • The cohort groups were originally formed under the Network for Mercy Education • There are currently FOUR existing cohort groups • Advancement • Campus Ministry • Finance • Technology • The cohorts will meet approximately once per month • All calls will be conducted through Bluejeans video conferencing • The MESA staff will initiate the calls • Meetings will be facilitated by both the MESA staff and group participants

21. “Partners in Ministry” Leadership Academy • When: July 23-24, 2018 • Where: Baltimore, MD at Embassy Suites-BWI • Who Attends • Goals

22. Initiatives on the Horizon • Mercy Leadership Conference for Students • Who? • What? • Where? • When? • How Long? • Funding? • System-wide, full-immersion service project for students • Collaboration between schools who offer dedicated academic support programs for students

23. What else? Questions, clarification…

24. Catherine’s Prayer for Guidance Come, O life-giving Spirit, transform us. Stir up in us the flame of love which is your gift. Give us wisdom to see as you see. Give us understanding to hear as you hear. Give us courage and strength to walk the way of justice and integrity. Kindle in us wonder and awe, that we may have grateful spirits.

25. Catherine’s Prayer for Guidance You who dwell within us, praying unceasingly, fill us with love and devotion. Holy Wisdom, guide us in the choices we must make. Give us discerning hearts that we may choose what is good in accord with your desire. Loving God of mercy, finish in us the work you have begun. Amen.