SUPPORT FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATORS

Over the past two decades, the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education has worked with hundreds of schools that seek to ensure that their Catholic identity is not simply added on but is instead woven through their culture, curriculum, content, and pedagogy. 

Through the Institute’s many programs, workshops, consulting services, conferences, retreats, and publications, we immerse educators in the philosophy, the content, and the tools of teaching and learning that lead to a deeper encounter with Truth, who is Jesus Christ.

Our team offers a variety of services for schools, including:

• School Renewal: 2- or 3-year teacher formation plans for schools looking to rediscover and adapt the classical tradition of liberal education as embraced and developed by the Church
• School Workshops: 1- or 2-day on-site workshops on the philosophy and practice of Catholic liberal education
• Faculty Webinars: webinars can be presented on individual topics or on a series
• Curriculum Reviews

CONTACT US

We’d be delighted to chat with you about formation options specific for your school. Click the button below to connect with one of ICLE’s faculty members.

MEET YOUR Instructors:

Peter Crawford, Dean of Academics

Peter Crawford was the founding headmaster of the St. Jerome Institute, a private liberal arts high school in the Catholic intellectual tradition located in Washington, DC. A graduate of Ave Maria University, he received his Master’s and MPhil degrees in philosophy from the University of Leuven. He taught ancient, medieval, and modern European history and humane letters at Glendale Preparatory Academy, a classical charter school in Phoenix, Arizona, from 2009-2013. In 2013, he founded two Great Hearts Academies in San Antonio, Texas. He grew both the lower school (K-5) and the upper school (6-12) enrollment to serve 700 students of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Peter and his beautiful wife have six children — four girls and two boys.

Colleen Richards, Director of School Services

Colleen Richards is ICLE’s Director of School Services, leading our teacher training and school advising efforts around the country. After 17 years of classroom teaching in a variety of Catholic elementary and high schools, she spent eight years as the second headmaster of St. John Bosco Schools in East Rochester, New York. Colleen led the school’s adoption of the St. Jerome Academy Educational Plan, training teachers and growing in the school to double its size. In 2014, she led the opening of Chesterton Academy of Rochester as part of the new Chesterton Schools Network, making the institution an option for a complete Catholic education for students from Pre-K through twelfth grade. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Canisius College, a Master’s Degree from the University of Phoenix in Curriculum and Instruction, and holds New York State Teacher Certification.

Elisabeth Sullivan, M.S., Executive Director

A former journalist, Elisabeth joined the Institute in 2010 to advance this vision and train educators in its philosophy and practice. As Executive Director, she develops ICLE’s program content and publications, designs the annual national conference, and promotes ICLE’s mission through speaking engagements across the country. Elisabeth is a CiRCE-Certified Classical Teacher who has taught middle school writing and literature, served on Catholic school boards, and served as director of communications for a liberal arts school in the Catholic tradition. She holds a B.S. in Humanities from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and an M.S. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Elizabeth Black, Faculty

Elizabeth has worked in Catholic liberal education for seventeen years, most recently as principal of Saint Stephen School in East Grand Rapids. She has taught broadly over grades 3-12, including philosophy, Latin, Logic and Rhetoric, music, geometry, history, and literature. Elizabeth has developed curriculum for several schools as well as created several unique programs, such as a high school sacred music apprenticeship and a Way of Beauty program. As Dean of Faculty and Curriculum at Oakcrest School, she developed the school’s liberal arts educational vision. Elizabeth is trained in the Ward Method of Music Instruction, holds a B.A. in Classical and Early Christian Studies from Christendom College and a M.A. from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Elizabeth is a consecrated virgin living in the world.

Monica Clarke, Faculty

Monica grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and attended Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. She holds a Master of Arts in Theology from St. Charles Borromeo School of Theological Studies in Philadelphia. Monica has worked in Catholic education for 13 years, teaching a variety of grade levels and subjects, including math, Latin, religion, and music. She has served both as a Master Teacher and Upper School Dean of Regina Coeli Academy in Abington, PA, during which time she mentored and conducted professional development for a portion of the faculty in addition to her regular teaching duties. Her most recent project has been helping develop, articulate, and implement a comprehensive curriculum and pedagogy for the Academy. She is a classically trained musician and enjoys adding the beauty of music to the liturgy both at school and in her parish. Her passion for authentic Catholic and classical education stems from ever-growing gratitude for her own formation, and she hopes to work towards making the same formation possible for many future generations of students.

David Gockowski, Faculty

David studied the life and works of Saint John H. Cardinal Newman under the auspices of the late Dr. Don Briel at the University of St. Thomas, MN. He spent four years in formation for the priesthood at St. Paul Seminary, where he studied theology. While there, he grew in his appreciation for the importance of robust schools in the life and mission of the Church. He has spent time working for the Church in youth faith formation, as a special education specialist, and has spent the last seven years at the acclaimed Saint Agnes School in Saint Paul, MN. David holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and a certificate in Catholic School Leadership from Saint Paul Seminary. He delights in teaching and supporting other primary educators in classical Catholic pedagogy. David, his wife, and their four children live in the Twin Cities.

Marie Kelly, Faculty

Marie was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, before receiving her B.A. in elementary education from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She has experience teaching in a variety of PK-12 classroom settings but found her passion in teaching early elementary students. Marie was first introduced to the rich tradition of a Catholic liberal arts education when she began to teach at St. Thomas the Apostle in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she helped the school make the transition to a classical curriculum. After a number of years teaching first and second grade, Marie and her husband moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where they currently reside. Marie was blessed to continue teaching second grade at St. Benedict Classical Academy, where she continued to help her students grow in the classical intellectual tradition of the Catholic Church. Marie is excited to be joining the ICLE team in helping inspire and renew Catholic educators in the rich tradition of the Catholic Church. Together, may we provide students with an authentic encounter with the transcendental Good, True, and Beautiful in a joyful and faithful Catholic environment.

Tyler Storey, Faculty

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Tyler Storey holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Whitman College, in Walla Walla, WA, with additional study in social and political philosophy, studio art, and urban horticulture. After a time as a legislative analyst and speech-writer in Washington, D.C., he continued in communications, and then taught urban horticulture and irrigation. He entered the Church and Catholic liberal arts education, one right after the other, in 2009. Since then, he has taught students from fifth-grade to seniors across a wide swath of curriculum, from literature and philosophy, to economics, history, grammar, and nature studies. As an administrator, he served most recently as Dean of Students and humanities department chair at Saint Mary’s Catholic High School in Phoenix, where he worked to develop the original Seat of Wisdom curriculum. Tyler joined the ICLE faculty team in the spring of 2024.

Dr. Kari Morris Carr, Faculty Consultant

Educated in Catholic schools from grades 1-12, Kari Morris Carr is delighted to join the Institute in promoting the Catholic liberal arts. Kari began her career in Catholic education through the Inner-City Teaching Corps, which prepared new teachers to live and work in historically underserved parishes and Catholic schools in Chicago, IL. Though trained in modern methods, Kari found her way to the classical liberal arts approach in 2003 and worked at a classical Christian school as a teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and later Director of Academic Development where she led professional development across three campuses. She also teaches at the university level and has incorporated classical pedagogy where possible in her instruction of new teachers. She has specialized in math instruction and logic but delights in all subjects, which point to the majesty of Christ. Kari homeschooled four of her five children in the Catholic liberal arts during the Covid pandemic. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies in 2014 from Indiana University, where she studied and worked with urban Catholic schools in Indianapolis. She and her family currently reside in Fort Wayne, Indiana.