Diocesan, Julie Billiart Schools’ partnership to serve more children with special learning and social needs

Wednesday, June 01, 2022

Beginning in the fall, the Diocese of Cleveland’s Better Together initiative will engage in a new partnership with Julie Billiart Schools to support children in Cleveland and surrounding areas.

The Better Together initiative launched in 2017 to incorporate fundamental change into the Catholic school community that creates flourishing environments for all students. Through Better Together, Catholic school educators have the opportunity to develop their classrooms and schools for students who learn differently.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the diocese and all schools across the United States experienced changes in attendance, staffing, resources and services. The Diocese of Cleveland’s Office of Catholic Education is working to reinvigorate the Better Together initiative to help close learning gaps and strengthen student learning. According to the diocese, partnering with Julie Billiart Schools -- a premiere network of schools designed for children who learn differently -- will allow the diocese to offer stronger support and professional development to Better Together schools.

“It only makes sense to leverage the expertise that JB offers in the area of special education,” said Frank O’Linn, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Cleveland. “We are excited because we know this partnership will provide our Catholic educators with greater support of the highest quality to reach all types of learners.”

Each year, Julie Billiart Schools in Akron, Lyndhurst and Westlake receive hundreds of applications for enrollment. According to Lannie Davis-Frecker, president/CEO of Julie Billiart Schools, this new partnership allows JB to meet its mission of educating and empowering even more students who learn differently.

“We are thrilled to bring our 70 years of experience and expertise to other Catholic schools,” said Davis-Frecker. “We cannot possibly serve every child with learning and social differences, and we know that JB is not the right school for every child. Supporting the diocese and their many wonderful schools and educators in this initiative aligns with our calling.”

Through the partnership, Julie Billiart Schools will serve as the liaison between Catholic schools providing special education and the diocesan Office of Catholic Education. Jodi Johnston, Julie Billiart Schools’ director of academics and teacher development and previous member of the Better Together committee, will provide direction and support.

Julie Billiart Schools will offer insight into classroom best practices, design professional development for teachers, help navigate the Jon Peterson and Autism Scholarship providership process, and serve as a general resource for how to best serve students with learning and social differences. Johnston will leverage JB’s large team of intervention specialists, behavior analysts and speech and occupational therapists for the partnership as needed.

“We believe collaboration is a force multiplier, and so we are thrilled to partner with JB to strengthen all of our schools,” said O’Linn. “This partnership is faithful to the promise of the Better Together movement, which was enthusiastically supported by the 2017 Alleluia Ball, to develop more inclusive learning communities reflective of our Catholic commitment to solidarity for students today and for years to come.”