Department of
Catholic Schools










Last updated on

August 13, 2008


Characteristics of Teachers in Catholic Schools

The following characteristics are paraphrased from the document prepared by the Committee on Personnel of the Supervision, Personnel and Curriculum Section, Department of Chief Administrators, National Catholic Educational Association (N.C.E.A.). The Diocese of Monterey endorses this description of characteristics of teachers in Catholic schools. It is provided as a job preview for those considering employment in schools of the Diocese of Monterey and is incorporated into the "Duties and Responsibilities of Teachers" in the Administrative Handbook, Section 4520.
  1. The teacher understands and accepts the fact that the schools are operated in accordance with the philosophy of Catholic education.
  2. The teacher accepts and supports the ongoing building and living of a Faith Community, not simply as a concept to be taught but as a reality to be lived in worship, service, and interpersonal relationships.
  3. The teacher has an overall knowledge of the goals of the entire school program and can relate his/her specific expertise to these goals.
  4. The teacher reflects in his/her personal and professional life a commitment to Gospel values and the Christian tradition.
  5. The teacher acknowledges that faith commitment is a free gift of God that is both relational and intellectual.
  6. The teacher accepts the responsibility for providing an atmosphere for fostering the development of a faith commitment by the students.
  7. The teacher accepts accountability in the fulfillment of his/her professional responsibilities.
  8. The teacher accepts professional evaluation of his/her performance.
  9. The teacher demonstrates good classroom management and record-keeping techniques.
  10. The teacher provides for continuous professional growth by engaging in advanced studies, attending workshops and inservice programs, reading current professional journals and adapting to improved teaching ideas, methods and materials.
  11. The teacher recognizes and appreciates the contributions of the other members of the professional staff, and shares with them his/her ideas, abilities and materials.
  12. The teacher understands the limits of his/her professional competencies and makes appropriate referrals for the benefit of the student.
  13. The teacher recognizes and respects the primary role of the parents in the education of their children.
  14. The teacher relates to the students in an adult Christian manner and contributes to the student's sense of self-worth as a Christian person.
  15. The teacher shows an understanding of the principles of human growth and development.
  16. The teacher is creative and resourceful in choosing instructional materials and in using appropriate school and community resources to facilitate optimum learning for all students.
  17. The teacher fosters the apostolic consciousness of students by encouraging them to join in experiential learning activities that give witness to Christian justice and love.
  18. The teacher motivates and guides the students in acquiring skills, virtues and habits of heart and mind required to address with Christian insight the multiple problems of injustice which face individuals and our pluralistic society.
  19. The teacher demonstrates the use of skillful questions that lead pupils to analyze, synthesize, and think critically.
  20. The teacher provides learning experiences which enable students to transfer principles and generalizations developed in school to situations outside of the school.
  21. The teacher provides for ongoing evaluation of students and the learning program in order to modify the learning process in accord with each student's needs, interests and learning patterns.
Department of Catholic Schools
485 Church Street, P. O. Box 350
Monterey, CA 93942
(831) 373-1608 FAX (831) 373-0173
Office:Schools@dioceseofmonterey.org