Teachers discover new skills through ICLE program

As he saw one of his staff members grow from her experience in a Catholic-rich formation program offered by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Corky McMullen decided he could benefit, too.

McMullen, principal of Saint Philip Neri Catholic School in Midwest City, enrolled in the third cohort of the Catholic Educator Formation and Credential program, which is provided through the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education.

Now 12 months into the 18-month journey, McMullen said the time has been well spent.

“In our Catholic schools, the ultimate goal is heaven,” he said. “ICLE does an outstanding job of equipping teachers with the virtues, values and skills needed to keep Christ and his holy apostolic Church at the center of every lesson, every classroom and every student interaction.”

ICLE, based in Henrico, Virginia, draws on the Catholic Church’s tradition of education. The goal is for participants to learn how to teach through a Catholic lens – to move from a secular view of education to one deeply committed to Catholicism.

Teachers and administrators from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa comprise the cohort.

Amanda Wohler, who teaches middle school religion, language arts and social studies at Saint Mary Catholic School in Ponca City, said ICLE has renewed her teaching and even her prayer life.

“I have taken the idea of leading the students to the answer through questions, arts and Socratic discussions to my own middle school classroom and have seen the results,” Wohler said. “The program has positively impacted not only how I teach, but also how my students view learning.”

Lorie Dean, a teacher at Holy Family Classical School in Tulsa, called the cohort “enlightening.”

“The professors who lead the lessons and discussions are brilliant and the reveal the beautiful methods of teaching that inspire students to learn with wonder,” she said. “We learn all about integrating subjects and using imagination, inquiry and imitation in our teaching.”

Second-grade teacher Leitner Gumerson, from Holy Trinity Catholic School in Okarche, said she has read books and studies about how best to reach today’s children, with mixed results.

ICLE “has given me the actual tools I need,” she said. “Instructors have given me practical ideas, lessons and teaching tips on how to lead children back to the true, good and beautiful.”

Deana Ellis, principal at Bishop John Carroll Catholic School in Oklahoma City, said ICLE has helped her grow as a leader.

“Learning about the foundational theories that have been taken out of modern education enlightened me and will help me lead teachers closer to logic, beauty and truth,” she said.

McMullen is one of four from Saint Philip Neri who have either completed the program or are enrolled now. Four more faculty will be part of the next cohort.

“Our families are truly blessed to have their children taught by teachers who have themselves been so well formed through this program,” he said.

Owen Canfield is associate director of Catholic Schools Development at the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma.

Photo: Merrill Roberts, senior faculty consultant for ICLE, instructs the third cohort of teachers and administrators in the Catholic Educator Formation and Credential program. Photo provided.