This story was originally featured in the Communiqué (Fall 2024 edition).

A key component of the mission of Academy of Holy Angels is to help every student find their unique gifts and reach their God-given potential. This idea is embedded in every facet of the school, from academic excellence to spiritual development. As such, this fall, the school has started upon a journey using the CliftonStrengths assessment program as a powerful tool to help students, faculty, and staff better understand themselves and each other. The program has been used by faculty members in smaller ways in the past, but this year, a commitment to personal growth has been taken to the next level by rolling out CliftonStrengths school-wide, ensuring that every member of the community can recognize, nurture, and celebrate their individual strengths.

The idea to introduce this strengths-based approach to education was championed by Mark Chronister (pictured left in between Brian McCartan and Principal Heidi Foley), parent of two AHA alumni Angela ‘99 and Jessica ‘02 (married to Jim Martin ‘99). Mark is a former chair of the AHA Board of Trustees, and he and his wife Jane have been active supporters of the school for years. Mark is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. It is because of the Chronister’s generous financial support that the program’s inventory was made available to the full AHA community, students, faculty, and staff. 

The entire school is focused on embracing and celebrating CliftonStrengths. Through all-school Convocations, individual assessments, small group workshops, classroom activities, and one-on-one coaching, every student will explore their top five strengths. Additionally, faculty members will help students understand how those qualities can guide them in their faith, academic pursuits, and personal relationships. Scott Spaulding, a GallupCertified Strengths Coach working with AHA, has helped facilitate a number of student and staff trainings.

Parents and teachers are even able to look into the school’s portal to view the top strengths of each student. The positive impact of this initiative is already being seen across campus. Tina Proctor, an AHA college counselor who has helped implement the program, shared, “I am excited for this unique opportunity. In the guidance department, we not only speak about our own strengths, but we talk about how we are able to better understand our colleagues when we are aware of their strengths and how that impacts the ways they are looking at particular situations. From a teacher’s perspective, it can be really helpful in understanding, for instance, if a student has lots of great ideas, but maybe isn’t as strong at getting things on paper; they may have great strategic strengths but may not have strong executing strengths. I also appreciate knowing when a student’s strength is intellection; that may mean that they need time to process a conversation or lesson before discussing it.”

Mark Schumacher, theology teacher and department chair, agrees that the impact on students and teachers is already evident, saying, “What has been most rewarding for me is when a student shares his or her strengths and says
‘This doesn’t sound like something I’m good at,’ but then, through our conversation, I am able to help the student recognize they do, in fact, have talents in those areas. Our students don’t always know their gifts; this program has been a great way to help them identify them, so they can fully use and celebrate them.”

As AHA moves forward, this program will continue to play a central role in helping students and staff recognize their unique talents and use them to serve others. Whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, or within the community, the hope is that students will begin to understand that their God-given potential is not just about what they can do but about who they are.