ORCID

https://orcid.org/https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7260-8789

Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Administrative and Instructional Leadership

First Advisor

DR. STEPHEN KOTOK

Second Advisor

DR. JOAN BIRRINGER-HAIG

Third Advisor

DR. JAMES COVIELLO

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of pastoral care on the personal social wellbeing and academic achievement of high school students, as perceived by the staff and students in Catholic High schools. This study is a qualitative case study research design. Purposive sampling was used to select one Catholic private co-educational high school in a large metropolitan city in the northeastern United States. The population for this study comprises all students in the Catholic High Schools. The sample of this study was comprised of 21 participants who were purposely selected and included 12 students from 9th to 12th grades, five staff members, which included the principal, assistant principal, chairperson for guidance/counseling, coordinator for religious ministry and activities, and the director for the department of communication. In addition, four parents were included in this study. The two procedures that were used for collecting data for this study were focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The focus group discussion was used to gather information from the students on the effects of pastoral care on their wellbeing and academic achievements, while the in-depth interviews were used to gather information on the perceptions of the school staff members and parents about pastoral care in the schools. Data from the interviews and discussions were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Findings from this study reveal that pastoral care determines the ethos and culture of Catholic schools, and that pastoral care programs can increase students’ personal social wellbeing and academic achievements.

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