The Fulcrum Point

With reports of rising anxiety and depression symptoms in students ages 3-17, it’s clear that the crisis of student mental health has shifted from a passing post-pandemic phenomenon to a sustained, systemic challenge. So how are Catholic schools in Western Washington responding?This episode of “The Fulcrum Point” focuses on the increased efforts among schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle to bring social and emotional health into the curriculum at the PreK-8th grade levels. High schools in the Archdiocese are taking this work a step further—training students to serve as mental health facilitators for their peers.You’ll hear from long-time school counselor Denise Mullins, who’s built a social and emotional learning program at Holy Rosary Edmonds and St. Thomas More preK-8 schools. Her work is helping students take charge of their own mental health and also assisting kids and their families grapple with modern challenges like cyberbullying. You’ll also hear from Joe Cotton, Executive Director of the Office of the Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Seattle, who’s built a program called the “Catholic Lifesaver Corps.” This peer-to-peer mental health program is literally saving lives and drawing international attention due to its success.Join host Brian Callanan to learn more about how Catholic schools in Western Washington are dealing with the many challenges of student mental health on this episode of the Fulcrum Point.Find out more about Fulcrum’s work to support Catholic education at this link.Connect with the 988 Lifeline for mental health challenges at this link.Learn more about Living Works suicide prevention training at this link.

Catholic Schools Week is a vibrant celebration that brings together all 74 Catholic schools across Western Washington. Comprising the 10th-largest school district in the state, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle bring together their 21,000 students every year for a week of building community and amplifying the uplifting message of Catholic education. This episode of "The Fulcrum Point" takes a look at what makes Catholic Schools Week a success each year, and there's plenty to learn!You'll hear from Alison Seaton, Fine Arts Director for Forest Ridge of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue, who organizes the annual Festival of Catholic High School Choirs at Seattle's Benaroya Hall. The festival serves as a capstone to Catholic Schools Week, and brings hundreds of high school students together for a joyful vocal performance focused not on competition, but on uplifting one another.You'll also get some insights from Kristin Moore, Director of Marketing for the Office for Catholic Schools, who helps educators find a spark of innovation each year to make Catholic Schools Week an inspiring showcase of their communities. The work of the Office for Catholic Schools in Seattle has been a model for schools across the country! Finally, you'll hear from the Fulcrum Foundation's Stewardship Manager, Alexandra Claeys, about the Celebration of Light gala, which absolutely rocked! The Celebration of Light serves as Fulcrum's annual fundraiser and highlights the amazing talents of Catholic school students across Western Washington. Fulcrum's already getting warmed up for a 25th anniversary bash at the Celebration of Light next year!Join host Brian Callanan to learn more about the excitement of Catholic Schools Week on this episode of the Fulcrum Point.Find out more about Fulcrum’s work to support Catholic education at this link.

Teaching students about the importance of serving people in need is a core part of Catholic education. Across Western Washington, thousands of Catholic school students are learning this lesson with projects that are making an impact far beyond the confines of the classroom.This episode of "The Fulcrum Point" focuses on how Catholic schools are inviting students to live out their Catholic identity and faith through a variety of service projects. Just last year, during the 175th anniversary of the Seattle Archdiocese, Catholic school students contributed 138,000 service hours to help their communities!You'll hear from Connor Geraghty, an assistant superintendent for the Office for Catholic Schools for Mission and Catholic Identity, who's connecting middle school students with a service program called the Missionary Discipleship Institute. You'll also get insights from Elianna Lucas, Director of Campus Ministry and Theology at Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett. The SPIN (Serving People in Need) program she oversees not only encourages students to volunteer with service providers in their communities, it also builds leadership skills for soon-to-be-graduating seniors as they organize service projects of their own. And there's an inspiring story from Aida, an Archbishop Murphy student whose service project may lead to a full-time career of serving others in the future. Join host Brian Callanan to learn more about how Catholic school students are serving others on this episode of the Fulcrum Point.Find out more about Fulcrum’s work to support Catholic education at this link.

Teachers play a critical role in Catholic schools by shaping our kids' lives as well as the communities they serve. That's why the Fulcrum Foundation honors a select number of educators from across Western Washington each year with a special recognition: the St. John Baptist de la Salle Educator Excellence Award.On this episode of "The Fulcrum Point," we're learning how the Fulcrum Foundation is presenting this award to not only recognize top educators, but also to help build up and encourage the vice principals, principals, and leaders of tomorrow. You'll hear from the chair of Fulcrum's Board of Trustees, Tony Audino, about how this award has become such an important part of Fulcrum's professional development programs for the 1,300+ teachers in the Seattle Archdiocese. You'll also hear the inspiring stories of two of this year's Educator Excellence Award winners: Angela Greenfield, a kindergarten teacher at St. Anthony School in Renton going into her 20th year of teaching, and Erica Billard, Director of Early Childhood Education and Vice Principal at Christ the King School in North Seattle. Join host Brian Callanan to learn more about what makes these award-winning teachers and their Catholic school communities so special on this episode of the Fulcrum Point.Find out more about Fulcrum’s work to support Catholic education at this link.

On this episode of the Fulcrum Point, we're having some fun with one of the oldest Catholic schools in Seattle--but one that's coming up with some the newest and most innovative ways to connect with and educate students!We're learning all about St. Alphonsus Parish School, a pre-K through 8th school which has been operating since 1907 in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. Speaking with principal Nick Padrnos, we're learning more about a program to organize middle schoolers that's literally working like magic, a breakthrough in the battle over when kids should get a mobile phone, a project that helps provide affordable teacher housing, and more!You'll also hear from lead pre-K teacher Carissa Person about how support from the Fulcrum Foundation has helped classes for 3, 4, and 5 year-olds grow to unprecedented levels. Plus, math teacher Emma Min, a former college hockey captain, explains how she's helping students reach their "goals" with single-gender middle-school classrooms and some inspiring lessons in all aspects of STEM learning. Take a listen to a day in the life of a typical Catholic school in Western Washington that's anything but!  Host Brian Callanan gives you plenty to think about, and smile about, with an insider's tour of St. Alphonsus Parish School on this episode of the Fulcrum Point.Learn more about Fulcrum’s work to support Catholic education at this link.

On this episode of the Fulcrum Point: Two national stories with significant local impacts. After a tragic school shooting during an all-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minnesota, how are Catholic schools in western Washington responding--and how are they changing their safety policies? Plus, how could a controversial new federal school choice tax credit program impact our state? Nicholas Ford, superintendent of the Office for Catholic Schools, is answering these questions and more in this edition of "The Fulcrum Point."The Fulcrum Point is a podcast focused on the impact of Catholic education on western Washington brought to you by the Fulcrum Foundation. In this episode, the superintendent (who oversees the 74 schools in the Seattle Archdiocese) also breaks down how Catholic schools in our region have grown for the sixth consecutive year this fall, with a focus on professional development for staff and teachers, and an inclusive environment for students with different learning and behavioral needs. Host Brian Callanan is putting Superintendent Ford to the test on these challenging issues in this action-packed episode!  Learn more about Fulcrum’s work to support Catholic education at this link.

As students and teachers head back to school this fall, two leading voices of the Seattle Archdiocese have some important lessons to pass on! Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo and Auxiliary Bishop Frank Schuster join the podcast for a special episode to kick off our second season.Welcome to The Fulcrum Point, brought to you by the Fulcrum Foundation! In this episode, the auxiliary bishops open up about their own sometimes surprising educational backgrounds, their efforts to welcome as many students as possible--especially from our region's growing Hispanic population--into Catholic education, their thoughts on how a fast-moving world of technology and social media is affecting students of today, and more. Host Brian Callanan also talks with Bishop Schuster and Bishop Elizondo about the continued growth of Catholic school enrollment in western Washington over the past five years--and what steps the Fulcrum Foundation can take to ensure that growth continues towards a bright, innovative and inclusive future. Learn more about Fulcrum’s work to support Catholic education at this link.

It may be June, but there’s no summer break for the innovative new programs Catholic schools are using to recruit and retain students and teachers. With nationally-recognized professional development programs and a focus on recruiting underserved communities, the Office for Catholic Schools is hard at work this summer.Welcome to The Fulcrum Point, brought to you by the Fulcrum Foundation! In this episode, we’re talking about the marketing efforts going on behind the scenes that have fueled steady growth of Western Washington’s 74 Catholic schools over the past four years.In this episode, host Brian Callanan talks with Kristin Moore, Director of Marketing for the Office for Catholic Schools within the Archdiocese of Seattle. The discussion covers a wide range of topics, from how Catholic schools are employing new programs like ALMA (Advancing Latino Multilingual Achievement) to reach out to a quickly-growing Latino and Hispanic population to INSPIRE, a nationally-recognized conference for Catholic school leaders and staff that’s drawing participants from around the country. Learn more about Fulcrum’s work to support Catholic education at this link.

Catholic schools in Western Washington are rooted in a tradition of quality education. But the 74 schools in the Seattle Archdiocese are also home to some innovative breakthroughs when it comes to helping kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities, restoring student health with a 4-day school week schedule, and providing invaluable experience for students before they enter the workforce. Welcome to The Fulcrum Point, brought to you by the Fulcrum Foundation! In this episode, we’re talking about innovation in the Catholic schools of the Seattle Archdiocese, from east King County all the way down to Vancouver, Washington.Host Brian Callanan visits Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish, Washington to talk with Michele Barton, director of the Options Program, an inclusive, integrated approach to helping students with special education needs. The podcast also features Seton Catholic College Prep president and principal Robert Rusk, who launched a modified 4-day school week schedule this year that's gaining national attention. Plus, you'll hear what's happening at the newest high school in the Archdiocese, Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School, where president Paul Hogan has started a Corporate Work Study program that allows students to earn a portion of their education cost while gaining real-world work experience. Learn more about Fulcrum’s work to support Catholic education at this link.

More and more families are enrolling in Catholic schools in Western Washington. But as the cost of living in our region rises, the ability to afford quality Catholic education has become a growing challenge. That’s where the Fulcrum Foundation is stepping in, providing more than $80 million in tuition assistance since 2002.Welcome to The Fulcrum Point, brought to you by the Fulcrum Foundation! In this episode, we’re discussing supporting students—the core mission of Fulcrum. Thanks to continued support from its donors, Fulcrum is now able to help 70% of elementary school families requesting financial aid.In this episode, recorded on the campus of Seattle Preparatory School, host Brian Callanan speaks with Susan Ocoma, Programs Director for the Fulcrum Foundation, to help break down the myths that a Catholic education is not accessible or affordable. Also on this podcast, you’ll hear from Seattle Prep admissions director Ann Alokalaro about her personal experience receiving aid as a student and how that’s inspiring her work today. Finally, you’ll meet Seattle Prep senior Bruk Worku, who immigrated to this country from Ethiopia. With substantial tuition help from Fulcrum and Seattle Prep, she’s about to be the first child in her family to go to college with a full-ride scholarship to Notre Dame.Learn more about Fulcrum’s investments in tuition assistance at this link.

Strong principals and inspiring classroom teachers are critical to the success of every school and every student. With nearly 50% of all teachers leaving the profession within the first five years, an investment in educators is needed now more than ever. Dedicated to transformational leadership, the Fulcrum Foundation funds a suite of programs to provide professional development and supports to leaders at all levels.Welcome to The Fulcrum Point, brought to you by the Fulcrum Foundation! In this episode, learn more about how Fulcrum is building leadership capacity—the “bench strength” of local Catholic schools—and ensuring the continued success and growth of Catholic education throughout Western Washington.Host Brian Callanan speaks with Vivian Shannon, Executive Director of the Fulcrum Foundation, about the critical need for Fulcrum’s investments in leadership. You’ll also hear from Kelly Surapaneni, Coordinator of Leadership Development with the Office for Catholic Schools, who took a system with only two leadership programs and expanded it to 30 with support from the Fulcrum Foundation. Also, principal Lauren Hobbs of Our Lady of Guadalupe School speaks about her experience in leadership programs funded by Fulcrum and how they’ve impacted her career, her students, and her community.  Learn more about Fulcrum’s investments in building leadership capacity at this link.

In Western Washington, access to quality early learning programs has a major impact on student achievement, family stability, and even the economic health of our region. Catholic educators are leading the charge to improve access to early childhood education as the need for this service continues to grow.Welcome to The Fulcrum Point, brought to you by the Fulcrum Foundation! In this episode, we'll break down how a major gift to Fulcrum gave new life to early learning programs in the Archdiocese, and how those programs are continuing to grow and serve 3-4 year olds, toddlers, and even infants. Host Brian Callanan speaks with Dave Mayer, Director of the Early Childhood Education Program for the Archdiocese of Seattle, about how Fulcrum is helping expand early childhood education programs, with an eye towards building standalone regional early learning centers in the future. You'll also hear from Dick Abrams, whose gift (with his late wife Sharon) launched a new era of early childhood education in Western Washington, and Martha DeSapio, preschool director at St. Luke's in Shoreline, who offers a provider's and parent's view of what makes an early learning program successful.  Learn more about Fulcrum's work with early childhood education at this link.

In notoriously secular Western Washington, why is Catholic education experiencing such impressive growth? The answers might surprise you.Welcome to The Fulcrum Point, brought to you by the Fulcrum Foundation! In our first episode, we'll explain what the Fulcrum Foundation is all about: leveraging support for Catholic education to bring positive, innovative change to our communities. Host Brian Callanan speaks with Amy Hall, Senior Advancement Director of the Fulcrum Foundation, to talk about the critical role Fulcrum is playing to help drive substantial growth of Catholic education in Western Washington. You'll also hear from Nicholas Ford, Superintendent of Catholic Schools in Western Washington - one of the largest school districts in the region - about some innovative programs supported by Fulcrum in our increasingly diverse Catholic schools and their impact on our communities.