Abstract
The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the impact of the Jesuit Leadership framework as described by Lowney to confirm if the framework had a positive effect on the schools’ viability and sustainability. Since the first Catholic school
opened in 1782, Catholic schools have played in an important role in the American educational system. In Catholic schools’ long history they have proven to more effectively close the achievement gap between high and low performing students, see
graduates become more civically minded adults, and can boast that following graduation students earn higher wages. In addition, the enrollment of students in Catholic schools is reported to save public schools as much as $21 billion dollars annually. Despite these successes Catholic schools have seen declining enrollment and an increasing number of school closures consistently since the 1960s. While Catholic schools as a whole have seen declining enrollment, schools run and supported by the Jesuits have seen consistent and often growing enrollment. The literature on Lowney’s Jesuit leadership framework was limited and no prior research had been done regarding its effectiveness within the context of Catholic elementary schools. This multiple case study used structured interviews and observations to determine the role the Jesuit leadership framework played in the respective school’s sustainability. Analysis of the collected data led to the identification of five themes that support a school’s sustainability and were used by the researcher to develop a solution that can support a schools sustainability.