This fall, nine current Catholic school teachers will participate in the inaugural Aspiring Leaders Academy led by the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama’s Catholic Schools Office. Those participants are Rachel Barranco (Prince of Peace), Bethany Douglass (Prince of Peace), Katherine Madonia (Prince of Peace), Tyler Marlow (John Carroll), Sarah Schaefers (Our Lady of Sorrows), Kelly Smith (Prince of Peace), Ashley Tibbetts (Holy Spirit—Huntsville), Jarrett Vandiver (St. John Paul II), and Becky Williamson (Our Lady of the Valley). These participants applied this spring and were recently selected by a committee made up of the superintendent of Catholic schools, the associate superintendent, and three members of the Diocesan Advisory Council for Catholic Education.

The purpose of the Aspiring Leaders Academy is to foster interest, inform, and support discernment in Catholic school leadership. This program offers a comprehensive overview of the responsibilities of such leadership and consists of six, day-long sessions led by experienced Catholic school administrators in the area, covering everything from Catholic identity and instructional leadership to budgeting and personnel supervision. Participants will also put their leadership skills into practice through a manageable school improvement project for their local school done in collaboration with their school principal. The 2026-2027 academy kicks off in September at our diocesan Formation Day at John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham and concludes in April.