Geoff Andrews, Superintendent of Schools
One of the greatest strengths of the Salina Diocese Catholic Schools is the partnership we share with our families. This fall, more than 800 parents and guardians participated in our diocesan-wide family survey through Cognia, our accreditation partner. That level of engagement is remarkable—and it speaks volumes. When families take time to share their experiences, hopes, and expectations, it shows a shared commitment to forming young people in faith, character, and academic excellence.
We are deeply grateful for the honest, thoughtful feedback offered across our fifteen Catholic schools. Your voices confirm the good work happening in our buildings each day while also helping us see where we can continue to grow. This is what a strong school community looks like: listening, learning, and partnering together to help every child discover the fullness of who God is calling them to be.
What Families Celebrated
The survey results paint a beautiful picture of our Catholic school culture. Across the diocese, parents overwhelmingly affirmed the heart of our mission:
A Welcoming, Caring Environment
Families shared that our schools are warm, respectful, and safe. More than nine in ten parents said their children feel welcomed and cared for by adults who genuinely know them and value their well-being. This matters deeply. Before a child can grow academically, they must feel known, loved, and secure—and our schools are living that truth every day.
High Standards and Strong Teaching
Parents also expressed great confidence in our teachers. They see high expectations, well-planned instruction, and a clear focus on learning. Families believe their children are being challenged to grow and supported by educators who know their craft and love their students. It’s encouraging to see such strong alignment between classroom practice and our mission of forming the mind, body, and spirit.
Authentic Relationships
Words such as personable, genuine, trusting, and collaborative were chosen again and again to describe interactions between families and school staff. Catholic education has always been built on relationships—and the survey affirms that our bonds with families are a source of strength, joy, and shared purpose.
Where We Will Continue to Grow
The survey also highlighted a few meaningful areas where families hope to see our schools continue to develop. These insights are guiding our diocesan school improvement work and align closely with our focus on High-Quality Instruction.
Personalized Learning & Student Voice
Families appreciate our strong teaching, but many expressed a desire for more individualized learning experiences—things like differentiated instruction, student goal-setting, and opportunities for students to shape how they learn. This is an exciting invitation for us to continue growing in ways that help each child see themselves as an active participant in the learning process.
Broadening Cultural and Global Awareness
Parents noted that they would like their children to encounter a wider range of cultures, perspectives, and experiences. As Catholic schools, this is central to our mission: helping students recognize the dignity of every person and understand that the Church is beautifully universal. We look forward to strengthening curriculum, service opportunities, and classroom activities that help students engage with the world beyond their own experience.
Innovation and Communication About Learning
Families affirmed our commitment to improvement but also encouraged us to be bolder in trying new things. We also heard that parents want clearer communication about how learning is measured and how support is provided. These are actionable areas that we will address intentionally as part of our accreditation cycle.
More Opportunities for Feedback Are Coming
This survey is just the beginning of our listening process for the year. As part of our accreditation and continuous improvement work:
- Students will complete a diocesan-wide survey later this school year.
- Teachers and staff will also be surveyed, giving us insight into the strengths and needs of our school communities from the educator perspective.
- We will administer a second family survey focused specifically on Catholic Identity, helping us better understand how families experience the faith life of our schools and how we can continue strengthening our mission as disciples of Jesus.
These additional surveys will give us a fuller, richer picture of our diocesan strengths and highlight the next steps God is calling us to take.
Moving Forward—Together
The story the survey tells is clear: our schools are thriving because of the strength of our mission and the dedication of our families, teachers, and leaders. At the same time, we are committed to continuous growth. The feedback from this survey will guide decisions at both the school and diocesan levels in the months ahead. When we return from Thanksgiving Break, our District Leadership Team for School Improvement will meet for a day of collaboration with the KCK Archdiocese, Wichita Diocese, Dodge City Diocese, and the Lutheran Schools of Kansas. This is a great opportunity to share about the school improvement process.
Most importantly, these results remind us that we are partners in the sacred work of forming disciples of Jesus, young people who are rooted in faith, grounded in virtue, and prepared to bring Christ’s love into the world.
To every parent who took the time to complete the survey—thank you. Your voice matters, your partnership matters, and together, we will continue building schools that help every child become the saint God created them to be.