Episode Details

Host: John Mihalyo | Guest: Deacon Dave Kerski, Former Catholic School Principal, Diocese of Raleigh

What does it actually mean to be a Catholic school — not just in name, but in everything you do, every single day?

Deacon Dave Kerski knows the difference. He spent ten years turning around a Catholic school in New Bern, North Carolina that was on the brink of closing. He earned his master's from Notre Dame's ACE program, served as a deacon, and built the kind of school culture that students, families, and teachers genuinely wanted to be a part of. Not by accident — by being relentlessly intentional about it.

In this episode, Deacon Dave and John have a real conversation about what authentic Catholic identity actually looks like in a school building. Not the surface stuff. The deep stuff. The kind of culture that changes how kids grow up, how teachers show up, and how families understand what they are signing up for.

Here is some of what they get into:

Why Catholic identity is an anthropological question, not just a checklist of Catholic stuff you do 
How to build a school playbook that ties everything — from morning drop-off to the awards you give out — back to your root beliefs and core values 
What to do when a fourth grader asks you something you have no idea how to answer 
Why your eighth graders may have been at a Catholic school their whole life and still have a malformed conscience — and what to do about it The difference between Catholic culture and Catholic identity, and why getting that wrong will cost you 
How to build teacher formation that actually prepares your staff for the hard conversations kids are already having 
Why it is better to be a year too early than a minute too late when it comes to forming your students in the faith 
What AI in the classroom has to do with Catholic pedagogy — and why Catholic schools may have the upper hand if they take it seriously 
The one thing every Catholic school principal has to have in place before they can lead anyone else

If you are a principal, pastor, superintendent, or school leader who has ever looked around and wondered whether your school is actually Catholic or just kind of Catholic — this one is going to give you a lot to think about and a lot to go do.

Connect with John If you want to talk about your school — enrollment, advancement, culture, or whatever is keeping you up at night — head over to elementaryadvancement.com and let's set up a time to connect.

If this episode was helpful, subscribe and share it with another Catholic school leader who needs to hear this. Thank you for everything you do for your students, your families, and the mission of Catholic education.

Learn more about today's sponsor, Renaissance:

As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.