The foundation of the School of Education’s Catholic education programs is based on the Catholic, Jesuit identity of Saint Louis University.
These programs aim to:
- Continue the Catholic faith through future generations.
- Create sustainability and equity for a viable future in Catholic schools.
- Recruit and support change leaders.
The Catholic education programs at SLU embrace three areas of focus: teaching programs, leadership programs and local outreach. Key programs include:
Teaching Programs
Billiken Teacher Corps
The Billiken Teacher Corps (BTC) is a unique service-learning opportunity for faith-driven college graduates to have a transformative impact in under-resourced Catholic schools in the St. Louis area. For two years, the fellows live in an intentional faith community while teaching full-time and earning their Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree with full tuition remission. As of spring 2021, there are 29 alumni of the BTC program; 93% of these alums are employed in education. Billiken Teacher Corps alums often continue their studies in doctoral education programs at SLU, increasing their impact in the community.
Scholarships
The School of Education offers a unique opportunity through the Chris Collins, S.J., Future Urban Teachers Scholarship. The endowed scholarship provides tuition support to students in the School of Education who commit to teach in an urban school, with first consideration given to students whose passion is to teach in urban, Catholic schools. The grant allows us to recruit and enroll a larger and more diverse group of students who wish to serve in our region and support Catholic schools.
Institute for Catholic Education
Graduate programs in educational leadership at SLU have a far-reaching impact by serving students in St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Little Rock and Oklahoma City. Through SLU’s Institute for Catholic Education, specialized master's and doctoral degree programs are offered for lay Catholic school administrators and lay religious educators.
Educational Leadership, M.A.
The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Catholic education is designed to prepare students for school-level leadership positions in Catholic schools.
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Catholic education is designed to prepare students to become executive-level leaders in Catholic education.
Local Outreach
Access Academies
Access Academies at Saint Louis University propels middle school students in urban Catholic schools
who have been historically underserved through high school and on to college and career
success. Access provides enrichment programs, counseling in middle school through
high school, and scholarships for high school.
Access Academies was founded in 2005 by a small group of St. Louisans convinced that
education was the most enduring path out of poverty. Embracing an innovative model
that emphasized extended school days, a challenging enrichment curriculum, and hands-on
counseling, they started the first Academy with 15 students in a single South City
middle school. Today, Access partners with three middle schools and 25 private high
schools, and it serves over 500 students across the St. Louis metropolitan area.
In 2020, Access Academies integrated its successful middle school enrichment and high school
and college support programs into Saint Louis University’s School of Education. Doing
so strengthened SLU’s connection to students in local Catholic schools and their surrounding
neighborhoods, and allowed Access to leverage the School of Education’s expertise.
Partnerships
The School of Education partners with several local Catholic schools and organizations,
offering guidance and expertise to these institutions.
Ronny O'Dwyer, S.J., Assistant to the Dean for Catholic School Initiatives, is serving
as the interim president of De Smet Jesuit High School. This impactful leadership role will enhance the connection between the two St.
Louis Jesuit schools.
Through his role as a board member of the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation, Gary Ritter, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Education, provides guidance to an organization
that assists faith based and private elementary schools in providing quality, affordable
and accessible educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged families.
John James, Ed.D., Professor and Director of the Institute for Catholic Education,
serves on the executive committee and as chair of the academic affairs committee of
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary Board of Trustees. He also serves as a member on both the parish pastoral council
and the parish finance council of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Webster Groves,
MO.