Statement of Roncalli High School regarding guidance counselor

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis and Roncalli High School are aware that Ms. Shelly Fitzgerald, who is employed as a guidance counselor at the archdiocesan school, has made public a confidential personnel matter concerning her employment contract with Roncalli.

The leadership of Roncalli High School has been asked to reply to public concerns regarding Ms. Fitzgerald’s employment status. Ms. Fitzgerald is employed by the school. Roncalli does not discuss specific details of school personnel matters. Roncalli takes seriously its responsibility to treat all employees fairly and to not discuss their employment record in a public forum. All employees must be afforded the right to have their individual situations reviewed in a fair, professional and private manner.

Catholic schools are ministries of the Catholic Church, and teachers, school guidance counselors and administrators are vital ministers in sharing the mission of the Church. They are expected to be role models and are expressly charged with leading students toward Christian maturity and with teaching the Word of God. As role models for students, the personal conduct of every teacher, guidance counselor and administrator and staff member, both at school and away from school, must convey and be supportive of the teachings of the Catholic Church. These teachings include but are not limited to: honoring the dignity of each human life from conception to natural death, care for God’s creation, and the belief that all persons are called to respect human sexuality and its expression in the Sacrament of Marriage between a man and a woman as a sign of God’s love and fidelity to His Church. A thorough description of Catholic teaching can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

These expectations are clearly defined in school employee contracts and ministerial job descriptions so every employee can make an informed decision regarding their employment prior to the start of each program year and before signing the annual contract. When the expectations of a contract are not being met, the employee and the school will attempt to reach a resolution so that the contractual requirements are fulfilled.

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