Best of the Week 2021-2022: Teaching to the Future

ST. ED'S INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING FEATURED IN LOCAL MAGAZINES

Inclusion has been at the forefront of St. Edward High School's thoughtful decision-making process in providing a welcoming learning environment where all students can excel. Both St. Ed's Diversity & Inclusion Program as well as the St. Andre Scholars Program have recently been featured in local Cleveland magazines, highlighting their inclusive work and celebrating how these programs live out the Holy Cross mission at St. Edward High School. St. Edward High School was honored as one of Crain's 2021 Notable Businesses Championing Diversity & Inclusion, with a focus on our communal initiatives centered on cultural humility. With a continuous drive to increase the diversity of our community, St. Ed's acknowledges the necessity to keep building upon our inclusive foundation and foster an environment rooted in understanding, solidarity, and genuine respect for one another.

"We are honored and excited about this recognition from Crain's Cleveland as one of the Notable Businesses Championing Diversity & Inclusion," says Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion James Knight. "To be the only school recognized among some of the best businesses in northeast Ohio is amazing and it is a testament to the commitment of our school leaders and our faculty. I hope our work around cultural humility continues to evolve and positively impact our students, families, community and the midwest region." The St. Andre Scholars Program was featured in the recent issue of the Northeast Ohio Catholic Magazine in celebration of Catholic schools and their impact in transforming the lives of our students. "It is an honor and very humbling to be featured in the magazine. The work we are doing here at St. Ed's with the Andre Scholars and providing an opportunity for students with disabilities to receive a quality Catholic education is so important," says Director of the St. Andre Scholars Program Renee Zorger. "In doing the NEO Catholic Magazine interview, it was fun to reflect on these last five years and really process how much we have grown. The work that has gone in during building the program has not left a lot of time for reflection. The St. Andre Scholars Program started with just two students, a teacher and an aide and now we are filling each grade level with more applicants than we can accept. Our programming has also changed drastically since those first years to enhance the St. Ed's experience for those in the St. Andre Scholars Program. My prayer is that other high schools in the area will be inspired to be open to serving individuals with various disabilities as well. Awareness and exposure is beneficial as we work to live out the mission of serving persons with disabilities."