Celebrating Catholic School Growth

Join Catholic Education Services President Rob Birdsell for his discussion with two extraordinary Catholic school leaders whose work has defied the odds. Mary Beth Lennon led the transformation of a Catholic girl’s school close to shutting its doors into a thriving International Baccalaureate World School. Nancy Barkan turned the school’s declining enrollment around and reshaped the academic foundation of the school. In today’s competitive Catholic school environment, these two women changed the face and future of their educational institutions.   

Key Takeaways

• Leadership can transform struggling schools
• Strategic innovation drives growth
• Adaptability needed in a competitive environment
• Inspirational models for Catholic education 

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Our Presenters

Rob Birdsell is the President of Catholic Education Services.  He is a veteran Catholic school leader and former CEO of the Cristo Rey Network. He co-founded the Drexel Fund and Amerigo Education, bringing national and international expertise to Catholic education. He is also the founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship in Education (ILEE). A member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, Rob serves on multiple boards and teaches at leading universities. 

Mary Beth Lennon has been President of Mercy High School, Baltimore, Maryland since 2014. She is the first alumna to hold the position. Mary Beth is an experienced leader with a master's degree in Latin American history and was a key early hire at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. Her career has focused on strengthening Baltimore's institutions through global awareness and community engagement. 

Nancy Barkan is the retired Assistant Head of School at Cardinal Gibbons High School, Raleigh, North Carolina. She shaped the academic foundation of the school by launching the teacher mentor program, developing the Portrait of a Learner, and leading the one-to-one laptop initiative. Her legacy includes steady leadership through the pandemic and a profound influence on the school's culture of care and innovation.