Familiaris Podcast for Catholic School Leaders

Jaime Madison Vasquez, PhD
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

Mission-first professional formation to help Catholic school leaders forge extraordinary relationships with families familiaris.substack.com

  1. A History of American Homeschooling with Dixie Dillon Lane

    3d ago

    A History of American Homeschooling with Dixie Dillon Lane

    What can the history of homeschool teach us about the future of Catholic schooling? Historian and educator Dr. Dixie Dillon Lane joins Dr. Jaime Madison Vasquez to discuss her new book, Skipping School: A History of American Homeschooling and How It Went Mainstream. Drawing on extensive research and interviews, Dixie traces homeschooling’s journey from a small and often hidden movement in the mid-twentieth century to a significant and growing part of the American educational landscape. The discussion includes the changing relationship between families and schools, why parental influence has become such an important educational question, and lessons for Catholic school leaders. Guests Dixie Dillon-Lane, Historian of Education, Author of Skipping School: A History of American Homeschooling and How It Went Mainstream, Editor, Hearth and Field What We Cover * How Sputnik and the Cold War triggered federal intervention in local education and why that history illuminates the parental instincts driving educational choice today * The distinction between parental control, influence, and authority and what it means practically for school-family relationships in Catholic schools * How homeschooling evolved from a legally risky fringe practice into a minority norm now larger than Catholic schooling, and what that says about American beliefs * What the data actually shows about homeschooling and child safety and how Catholic school leaders can model clear-eyed, fair engagement with contested education statistics * Post-COVID shifts in how families weigh institutional affiliation against core values and the invitation that creates for schools anchored in a strong Catholic mission Chapters * 00:00: Introduction and Dixie’s background * 09:31: Sputnik and the Cold War’s impact on American education * 11:56: Early homeschoolers and the anti-institution movement * 17:14: Parental authority vs. control vs. influence * 25:03: Where homeschooling and Catholic schooling overlap * 31:54: Subsidiarity, local control, and education * 36:49: Homeschooling and child safety: data vs. narrative * 41:14: What public school performance numbers reveal * 44:01: Post-COVID shifts in values and institutional affiliation * 49:00: Lessons for Catholic school leaders in this moment * 53:15: The ultimate purpose of education Resources: * Skipping School: A History of American Homeschooling and How It Went Mainstream by Dixie Dillon Lane (Amazon, Bookshop, Eerdmans Publishing) * The Hollow Substack Newsletter * The Bad Moms Homeschool Substack Newsletter * Hearth & Field: A Journal, An Invitation, A Quest for Real Life Follow Dixie on LinkedIn Join the conversation * Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com * Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe Paid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools. Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements God bless! Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios To receive new Familiaris posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 2m
  2. Speech and Debate as Whole Person Formation

    May 28

    Speech and Debate as Whole Person Formation

    Speech and debate do far more than prepare students for competition; they shape how young people think, listen, argue, and engage as citizens. Dr. Jaime Madison Vasquez sits down with Ethan Tong, Jonathan Peele, and Anne McClure to explore how Catholic schools and families can enter this space and use it as a vehicle for whole-person formation and parent partnership. Guests: * Ethan Tong, League Administrator, High School Moot Court Association * Jonathan Peele, Director of Speech and Debate, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation * Anne McClure, Board Member, High School Moot Court Association What We Cover: * The different formats of speech and debate—platform speeches, limited prep, interpretive events, policy debate, and moot court—and how each develops distinct but complementary skills * How the speech and debate landscape is structured across major leagues (NSDA, NCFL, NCFCA, STOA, Coolidge Foundation, HSMCA) and what distinguishes each for Catholic and classical schools * Practical guidance for schools getting started, from choosing a league and matching events to student strengths, to honestly assessing the time commitment for coaches * Why parents are essential to the speech and debate ecosystem—as judges, coaches, conversation partners, and the first audience for a student’s prepared arguments * How moot court and debate bring formation home through the dinner table debates, late-night arguments, and multigenerational conversations that enrich family culture Chapters: * 00:00: Welcome and guest introductions * 01:27: Ethan’s path into speech and debate and founding HSMCA * 03:43: Jonathan’s journey and the Coolidge Foundation * 05:28: Anne’s story as a debate parent and board member * 08:29: Mapping the speech and debate landscape * 13:59: Coolidge debate: civility, substance, and accessibility * 19:50: Getting started: advice for schools and coaches * 26:17: Time commitment and scaling expectations * 33:04: Moot court vs. debate: different skills, shared formation * 43:03: The role of parents as judges and conversation partners * 56:26: Speech and debate as whole-family formation * 58:42: Where to find HSMCA and Coolidge online Resources: High School Moot Court Association Coolidge Speech and Debate National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) NCFCA Christian Speech & Debate League National Catholic Forensic League STOA Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate Join the conversation * Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com * Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe Paid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools. Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements God bless! Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios To receive new Familiaris posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 4m
  3. The Case Study Method for Parent Formation with Leticia Rodriguez of IFFD

    May 21

    The Case Study Method for Parent Formation with Leticia Rodriguez of IFFD

    What does it look like to help parents grow in skill and in love for family life itself? Leticia Rodriguez, Director of Family Enrichment for the International Federation for Family Development (IFFD), joins Dr. Jaime Madison Vasquez to share how the Family Enrichment case study method (currently used in 68 countries) equips couples to communicate better, grow in friendship, and become more united as spouses and parents. Guest Leticia Rodriguez, Director of Family Enrichment, International Federation for Family Development (IFFD) What We Cover: * How the Family Enrichment case study method helps couples move from facts to problems to solutions in their family life * Why the husband-wife relationship is the most important factor in raising healthy children * The four-step structure of IFFD’s family enrichment courses: individual study, spouse discussion, small group, and general session * How schools and family enrichment programs can partner to support parents at every stage of a child’s development * Best practices for moderating a group discussion and the common mistake that shuts down conversation Chapters: * 00:00: Introduction * 02:04: Leticia Rodriguez and the Origins of IFFD * 06:42: Discovering the Beauty of Family Life * 11:36: How the Case Study Method Works * 19:13: Why Starting with Facts Transforms Communication * 26:20: The Four Steps: From Individual Study to General Session * 33:54: Parenting Across Every Stage of Development * 38:57: Why the Marriage Relationship Comes First * 45:37: How Schools Partner with Family Enrichment Programs * 47:13: The PAUSE Platform for Families * 51:14: Q&A: Common Moderator Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Q&A: * What are the key ingredients for writing a case study that sparks real discussion? * What are best practices for helping couples commit to a full series of family enrichment sessions? Resources: International Federation for Family Development Family Enrichment USA Learn about family enrichment courses in the United States. IFFD - Pause Digital resources to foster study and conversation between couples and among friends. Join the conversation * Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com * Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe Paid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools. Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements God bless! Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios To receive new Familiaris posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 4m
  4. Quo vadis, humanitas? Vocation, Identity, and the Gift of Freedom (Part 2)

    May 14

    Quo vadis, humanitas? Vocation, Identity, and the Gift of Freedom (Part 2)

    In this follow-up conversation, Dr. Jaime Madison Vasquez and guest co-host Anne McClure move into practical and hopeful insights for families in the recent Vatican document, Quo vadis, humanitas? Together they unpack how memory, rootedness, and a culture of vocation can shape Catholic education, and what it truly means to educate in genuine freedom rather than fear. Guest: Anne McClure – Mother of five, education consultant. Follow Anne on LinkedIn What We Cover * Why memory understood as more than data retrieval is essential to forming a sense of vocation in children and adolescents * How rootedness in a specific home, community, and tradition equips students to navigate the confusion and risk of identity formation * The difference between educating for maturity versus filling students with skills, tasks, and measurable outcomes * What a Catholic vision of human freedom looks like in practice—and how the temptations to control, comply, or take the path of least resistance undermine it * How school leaders can build cultures of trust, humility, and accompaniment that form both students and the adults who serve them Chapters * 00:00: Introduction and Recap of Part I * 01:22: Memory, History, and the Roots of Vocation * 09:41: Rootedness, Place, and the Risk of Nomadism * 13:42: Educating for Maturity, Not Just Skills * 18:22: Identity Formation, Story, and the Adolescent Journey * 22:05: A Catholic Understanding of Human Freedom * 28:38: The Rich Young Man and the Temptation to Control * 33:17: Coaches, Mentors, and Extracurricular Formation * 42:18: Humility, Trust, and Building a School Culture * 49:00: Key Quotes and Final Reflections Resources: Quo Vadis Humanitas Join the conversation * Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com * Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe Paid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools. Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements God bless! Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios To receive new Familiaris posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe

    54 min
  5. Quo vadis, humanitas? Why Catholic Schools Need a Vision of the Human Person (Part 1)

    May 7

    Quo vadis, humanitas? Why Catholic Schools Need a Vision of the Human Person (Part 1)

    In this episode, Dr. Jaime Madison Vasquez and guest co-host Anne McClure explore the Vatican’s recent document Quo Vadis Humanitas, examining what Christian anthropology means for Catholic educators and parents partnering in the formation of children. They discuss the tension between being and doing, the reality of human vulnerability, and how vocation grounds us in relationship with God and one another. Guest: Anne McClure – Mother of five, education consultant. Follow Anne on LinkedIn What We Cover: * The foundation of being versus doing in education and why Christian anthropology must ground our practices * How transhumanism and posthumanism challenge Catholic understandings of the human person * The role of tension, vulnerability, and interdependence in human formation * Vocation as call and gift rather than self-directed project * Practical ways to bring these ideas into school communities and homeschool settings Chapters: * 00:00: Introduction & Guest Background * 02:00: Why Christian Anthropology Matters * 04:30: From “Doing” to “Being” * 07:40: Transhumanism & Cultural Pressures * 11:10: Technology, Identity, and Anxiety * 16:00: Rethinking Human Development * 20:50: Achievement Culture & “Power Parenting” * 32:40: Life as Vocation * 38:00: Family, Gift, and Formation Resources: * Quo Vadis, Humanitas * Summaries of Quo Vadis, Humanitas (Vatican News, The Pillar) * Gaudium et Spes * International Theological Commission * Episode 12 with Mark Bradford - Created in His Image: A Catholic Vision for Students with Disabilities * Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the Virtues by Alasdair MacIntyre (Amazon, Bookshop, Thriftbooks) * Newman Forum for High School Students 2026 Summer Institute: There and Back Again: The Adventures of Heroes, Saints, and Pilgrims Join the conversation: * Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com * Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe Paid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools. Upcoming dates: * Monday, May 11 at 3pm CST Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements God bless! Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios To receive new Familiaris posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 2m
  6. Created in His Image: A Catholic Vision for Students with Disabilities

    Apr 30

    Created in His Image: A Catholic Vision for Students with Disabilities

    What does it mean for a Catholic school to truly welcome every child, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities? Mark Bradford, Fellow for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at Word on Fire, brings a deeply Catholic anthropological vision to that question, rooted in his own experience as the father of a son with Down syndrome. This conversation gives leaders and parents a framework for seeing every student as indispensable to the body of Christ. What We Cover: * Why disability is not peripheral but central to a Catholic understanding of the human person * How the parable of Lazarus and the rich man reframes what inclusive education is really for * The obstacles families with disabled children face in parishes and Catholic schools and how leaders can remove them * What sacramental inclusion looks like and why it matters for every child’s eternal life * The GRACE Collaborative and other growing initiatives helping Catholic schools lead on inclusion Chapters: * 00:00: Introduction * 00:20: Mark Bradford’s Background and Role at Word on Fire * 02:51: Thomas and the Bradford Family Story * 06:24: Christian Anthropology and Disability * 15:16: Reaching All Audiences with the Message * 21:29: The Pace of Life and Relationship * 25:21: Sacramental Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities * 36:41: Persons with Disabilities as Ministers * 40:16: The Pro-Life Connection * 43:21: The Renaissance of Inclusion in Catholic Schools Resources: * Word on Fire Fellowship for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities * Mark Bradford’s essays at Word on Fire * Follow Mark on LinkedIn * Let Us Pray: Catholic Prayers for All Abilities by Mark Bradford (Word on Fire, Amazon, Bookshop) * Indispensable: A Catholic Guide to Welcoming Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities by Mark Bradford (Word on Fire, Amazon) * Gaudium et Spes * Quo Vadis Humanitas: Thinking Through Christian Anthropology in the Face of Certain Scenarios for the Future of Humanity * Redemptor Hominis Inclusion and Special Education Funding Support: * FIRE Foundation * Catholic Coalition for Special Education * St. Margaret of Castello Fund Michigan * Rosewood Foundation Chicago Join the conversation * Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com * Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe Paid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools. Upcoming dates: * Monday, May 11 at 3pm CST Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements God bless! Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios To receive new Familiaris posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 3m
  7. Partnering with Families Through the Admissions Process

    Apr 23

    Partnering with Families Through the Admissions Process

    What does it look like to welcome families into a faithfully Catholic school community? In this episode, Dr. Jaime Madison Vasquez sits down with two Catholic school leaders to explore how mission-driven admissions can form lasting partnerships with families from the very first tour. Guests * Tyler Deschamps, Head of School, Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania * John Rocha, Principal, Holy Rosary Academy, Nashville, Tennessee What We Cover * How to embed Catholic mission into every stage of the admissions process, from marketing materials to parent questionnaires * Informal and formal strategies for assessing mission fit during tours, shadow days, and interviews * The full admissions process step-by-step: inquiry, open house, shadow day, application, and enrollment * How to onboard new families into the community during the “golden window” between admission and the first day of school * Go-to phrases and frameworks school leaders use to open families up and communicate what their school is truly about Chapters * 00:00: Welcome and Guest Introductions * 04:02: Communicating Mission Through Marketing and Admissions * 11:15: Assessing Mission Fit: Formal and Informal Approaches * 16:32: The Admissions Process Step by Step * 27:46: Honesty and Discernment in Admissions * 32:07: Recognizing Families Who Are Ready to Partner * 40:38: Onboarding New Families into the Community * 47:51: Lessons from Business and Previous Schools * 53:00: Celebrating Families at Graduation and Beyond * 57:35: Go-To Phrases for Admissions Conversations Q&A * Is there anything from your time before your current school (Tyler, from business, or John, from Ozark or Western Academy) that you think worked particularly well in the admissions process? * Do you have any special traditions to mark the end of a family’s journey with your school? * Do you have a go-to phrase in your conversations with parents during the admissions process that helps open them up or explain your school? Resources: * From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age by University of Mary and Monsignor James P. Shea (Amazon, Thriftbooks) * Niche.com * Calendly.com Join the conversation * Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com * Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe Paid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools. Upcoming dates: * Monday, April 27th at 3pm CST * Monday, May 11 at 3pm CST Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements God bless! Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios To receive new Familiaris posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 3m
  8. Building a Culture of Giving: Development as Parent Partnership with Susan Mangels

    Apr 16

    Building a Culture of Giving: Development as Parent Partnership with Susan Mangels

    Susan Mangels, PhD, Senior Vice President of Consulting Services at AC Fitzgerald, joins Jaime to unpack what it really means to build a culture of giving in a Catholic school, and why it’s far more than hitting a dollar goal. What We Cover: * Why “fundraising happens at the speed of trust” and how reframing donor relationships transforms the ask * The unique challenges and opportunities of development work in Catholic and faith-based schools * How a school’s mission and vision language forms the foundation of every donor conversation * Practical tools for storytelling, one-pagers, and building a multi-channel donor communication plan * Alumni engagement, participation goals, and the green flags of a healthy development culture Chapters * 00:00: Welcome and Guest Introduction * 03:34: Defining Development, Advancement, and Fundraising * 05:55: What Makes Catholic School Fundraising Unique * 08:38: Mission and Vision as the Foundation of Development * 14:04: Inviting Donors to Invest * 21:06: Balancing Urgency with Relationship-Building * 24:15: Storytelling and the Donor One-Pager * 31:56: Building and Evaluating a Fundraising Game Plan * 39:31: Alumni Engagement and Building Long-Term Donor Culture * 43:39: Lightning Round Q&A * If a school leader feels uncomfortable asking for donations, what is a mindset shift? * How important is it for a small team to be ready to accept gifts in forms like stock, donor-advised funds, and planned giving? * What is a small communication habit that could strengthen relationships with donors? * What is a green flag that a school has a healthy development culture? Join the conversation * Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com * Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe Paid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools. Upcoming dates: * Monday April 27th at 3pm CDT * Monday May 11th at 3pm CDT Resources: * AC Fitzgerald * AC Fitzgerald Nonprofit Partner Newsletter * The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri J. M. Nouwen (Amazon, Thriftbooks) * Follow Susan on LinkedIn Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements God bless! Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe

    56 min
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