When it comes to education in Berks County, we are fortunate to have a myriad of options from which to choose, depending on what we value and what we seek for our children to receive from their schooling. There are systems in place that keep these options available for all, and many individuals and groups work hard but go unseen. One such organization is the Healey Education Foundation.
The passion of Healey is focused on Catholic education, with a goal centered on teaching children to “Love God and love one another.” Healey aims to help Catholic schools help themselves by providing sustainable success through strategic planning. Within Berks, the organization works with five schools: Berks Catholic High School, Immaculate Conception Academy, Holy Guardian Angels, Sacred Heart of West Reading, and St. Ignatius Loyola.
Healey employs a process to select schools that will best fit their program. That program takes three years to complete but ultimately creates a lasting relationship of encouragement and support between the school and the Foundation. Grants are given to schools ready for change, and typically an advisory board is formed to focus on raising funds. Healey has a forward-looking and long-term approach, which is number and goal oriented, pushing schools to be successful.
What’s in a Name?
Rebranding is one of the first things Healey focuses on when it begins working in a school; this often includes a new website and enhancement of the school’s media presence. There are three main components in the program: Enrollment Management, Development and Strategic Planning. The model of approach differs depending on the specific needs within the school.
“What we do comes to life through the schools we work with,” emphasizes Valerie Ascuncion, Director of Communications for the Foundation. Bob Birmingham, the principal at St. Ignatius Loyola, would agree. He is happy to see an increase in enrollment, and St. Ignatius is currently at 95 percent of its annual fund goal. An established board provides an influx of ideas which have been helpful for the school in forming a new mission and re-marketing itself.
Berks Catholic is another Healey success story. When Reading Central Catholic High merged with Holy Name High in 2011, Healey was brought on to help brand the newly-formed Berks Catholic High School. They implemented a new board during a time of great transition and helped the school and staff to get focused. “The key thing is the level of support we have gotten from day one,” explains Berks Catholic Director of Admissions Nicole Smith. The constant support of a consultant from Healey helped the staff to develop and execute goals, using the Foundation’s best practices.
In addition to working in our local Catholic schools, The Healey Education Foundation works in 50-plus schools through out Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Minnesota. Our schools in Berks are a part of 19 within the Diocese of Allentown.
