Diocesan Workshops for Catholic Schools

Some dioceses want to strengthen development and enrollment management across all their schools without committing to a full strategic planning process or a multi-year coaching engagement.

ISPD’s customized Diocesan Workshop Series provides a focused, high-impact alternative. Designed for principals, school administrators, development directors, and advancement leaders, the series:

• Builds shared knowledge and common language over time
• Emphasizes that development is a process, not a program
• Connects people, process, and ministry to create a culture of belonging

Participants receive practical tools they can integrate into their daily work as they invite, involve, and engage more people in the mission of Catholic education.

The standard series includes five workshops, typically delivered monthly to maintain a healthy cadence and momentum. The sequence and schedule remain flexible so each engagement can align with the diocesan calendar and the priorities of the Office of Catholic Schools.

This model is designed for Offices of Catholic Schools and diocesan leaders who want to “raise all the boats” by developing administrators together and strengthening practice across the entire school community—not just in one or two schools.

You want schools throughout the diocese working from a common advancement and enrollment framework, using similar language, tools, and best practices.

You want more than a one-time presentation—participants need tools, next steps, and accountability to move from learning to implementation.

You need a series that fits the school-year calendar and combines virtual learning with on-site in-service opportunities.

Every series begins with the diocese—not with a one-size-fits-all presentation.

ISPD works with the superintendent and Office of Catholic Schools to understand diocesan goals, priorities, and culture.

Schools are surveyed broadly to identify needs, experience levels, opportunities, and common challenges across development, advancement, and enrollment.

ISPD builds a sequenced curriculum informed by diocesan input and the proven content of ISPD’s publications, connecting the dots among development, enrollment, communications, and stewardship.

Participants receive practical tools and concrete next steps to integrate new practices into school operations, using ISPD’s 7 I’s of Catholic Development™ (Identify, Inform, Invite, Involve, Implement, Invest, Improve) as a guide for ongoing follow-through.

During the 2025–2026 school year, ISPD delivered a five-workshop series for the Diocese of Savannah focused on Catholic school development, advancement, and enrollment management. Principals and development leaders gathered throughout the year for a sequenced curriculum designed to connect learning with implementation and to strengthen a culture of belonging and engagement.

Schools build a common framework and vocabulary for discussing development, advancement, and enrollment management.

Concrete next steps between sessions help participants move from ideas to implementation and from programs to ongoing processes.

Principals and advancement leaders develop together, strengthening leadership alignment and a shared sense of ownership at each school.

The model works across dioceses of different sizes and raises the capacity and confidence of the whole school community.

The result: school leaders move forward together with practical tools, a shared direction, a culture of belonging, and greater confidence in advancing the mission of Catholic education.