Posted
March 06, 2025
The secret sauce in a St. Edward education is joy. And that’s not just for students—it starts with a positive workplace culture that empowers more than 100 Holy Cross educators to bring their energy, passion, and purpose to campus each day. Last week, Max Linnville, Mo Loesch, and Molly Pietch hosted an interactive presentation at the Holy Cross Institute in Austin, Texas to share with professionals from around the world how St. Edward intentionally cultivates staff connection—and why it makes all the difference.
A group of St. Edward staff attended the Holy Cross Institute’s annual Convocation at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, from February 24-26. The gathering welcomed over 300 educators from Holy Cross schools worldwide, providing opportunities for collaboration and professional development.
The event featured keynote speakers, plenary sessions, and workshops on mission, collaboration, service trips, academics, and development. Among the presenters were three of St. Edward High School’s own—Campus Minister Max Linnville, Executive Operations Manager Mo Loesch, and Associate Director of Admission Molly Pietch—who led a highly attended workshop titled Best Culture, Best Outcomes. Their presentation offered a deep dive into the intentional practices that shape St. Edward’s dynamic workplace culture and ultimately drive student success. Through engaging discussions, real-world examples, and interactive elements like music, icebreakers, a “finish the lyrics” challenge, and a raffle, they provided a compelling model for schools seeking to foster a more connected, mission-driven environment.
“One of the attendees was taking scrupulous notes about all the things we do,” says Molly Pietch. “She was amazed at all the different ways we celebrate our employees and provide them with opportunities to connect with each other.”
That connection clearly works—St. Edward has repeatedly been ranked a Top Workplace among midsize workplaces in Northeast Ohio by The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. This recognition is based entirely on employee surveys, reinforcing that the school’s commitment to fostering an engaging and supportive workplace isn’t just aspirational—it’s a proven model that others strive to replicate.
“At its core, our workplace culture is all about our ministry,” says Max Linnville. “Our faculty and staff pour themselves out for their students, and it’s important that we as administrators refill their cups.”
One of the highlights of the St. Edward workplace culture has been the Friday raffles with “shoutouts.” Each week, faculty and staff are invited to submit comments through a Google form to recognize their colleagues who have gone above and beyond in living the school’s mission. After the last class on Friday, faculty and staff gather together to hear a reading of each shoutout, followed by raffle drawings for some fun prizes.
“Sometimes it’s tough for people to catch up with their colleagues to tell them they’re doing an amazing job,” Linnville says. “The shoutouts give people the chance to anonymously compliment others in front of their peers.”
In addition to the shoutouts and raffles, faculty and staff are invited to get together outside of school on the final Friday of every month—another opportunity for social engagement. “I love seeing people come together and mingling, especially if they haven’t seen each other for a while,” says Mo Loesch. “These moments are a great way to decompress at the end of the week and catch up with people you haven’t seen.”
Other notable events have included a back-to-school gathering at Lakeside Chautauqua for a day filled with recreational activities; a faculty-and-staff retreat at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo; and specially planned refreshments during final exam week, Catholic Schools Week, and Employee Appreciation Week. “We always make it a point to include everyone—not just teachers,” says Loesch. “The faculty, staff, and administration are all part of this together.”
The best part about St. Ed's is the instant family that I got when I started working here.
College Counselor Keith Lofton
My favorite part of St. Ed’s is the community.
English Department Chair Andy Allen
The best part of working here is the freedom to explore, and my colleagues are incredibly supportive.
Film Teacher Will Fistek
Everything is awesome. It's sustaining; we've got great people working here.
Theology Teacher Pat Chrosniak ’02
