Lauren Casella ’03, Ed.D., academic program director for LMU School of Education’s Catholic School Leadership Academy (CSLA), was recently appointed to the Catholic Education Council for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The Catholic Education Council is the principal advisory council for Catholic education in the Los Angeles area. As a member of the Council, Casella will provide leadership, guidance, support, and oversight of the Department of Catholic School’s goal-setting, strategic planning, budgeting, marketing, advancement, governance, and policy formation in pursuit of thriving, faith-based, academically rigorous PK-12 education in the Archdiocese.
“This Council is an expression of the strong partnership between our faith leaders, educators, and philanthropists in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,” says Casella, who joined SOE in 2014 and is now an assistant clinical professor in its Department of Educational Leadership and Administration. “I look forward to representing SOE as a member of this Council in support of our vibrant Catholic school communities.”
SOE is unique in offering a variety of preparation programs tailored for educators working in Catholic schools. The leadership program that Casella oversees cultivates and supports the capacity of Catholic school principals and Archdiocesan leaders locally and nationally. And SOE’s CAST and PLACE programs offer current and aspiring Catholic school teachers the opportunity to earn a California teaching credential and a master’s degree while they teach (CAST) and live in community with one another (PLACE).
The Council appointment will enable SOE to be highly responsive to the needs of Catholic schools in the L.A. region. “I am thrilled that Dr. Casella has earned a seat at the table for this important work,” says Estela Zarate, dean of SOE. “We are grateful that she can bring forward LMU’s Catholic, Jesuit, and Marymount values and innovative approaches to education to the Council and the Archdiocese. Her involvement will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the 250+ Catholic schools in the Los Angeles area, which serve more than 67,000 students.”
Casella succeeds Sr. Rosemarie Nassif, SSND, Ph.D., the executive director of LMU’s Center for Catholic Education. Nassif served a six-year term on the Council and remains engaged in its strategic committee work.
