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In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools and Prof. Albert Cheng of The Ohio State University speak with Dr. Melodie Wyttenbach, Executive Director of Boston College’s Roche Center for Catholic Education. Dr. Wyttenbach reflects on her career in Catholic schools leadership across the country and how Catholic education’s commitment to the true, the good, and the beautiful can foster a durable faith and sense of purpose in students. She examines the mission and operational realities confronting K–12 Catholic schools, including enrollment, governance, and labor costs, while highlighting promising models such as Cristo Rey’s work-study approach. Melodie considers how Pope St. John Paul II’s witness can help leaders connect faith with young people’s lives, and how a classical liberal arts foundation equips students to navigate modern challenges. Finally, Dr. Wyttenbach explores the expanding landscape of school choice, tax-credit programs, and ESAs, as well as what Pope Leo XIV’s papacy may mean for the future of Catholic education in America and worldwide for families and communities.
Hosted by Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy
