The Diocese of Wichita has launched the "Fully Alive!" campaign, focusing on enhancing pay for Catholic school teachers. Janet Eaton, superintendent of the diocese's schools, emphasized the importance of teachers in delivering quality education. "We can’t do this without teachers who are in love with their faith and who have the catechetical background to be able to effectively teach," she stated.

The campaign aims to establish $15 million in endowments across all 38 Catholic schools within the diocese. These endowments are intended to provide long-term financial support for teacher salaries. Currently, Catholic school teachers earn about 70%-80% of what their public-school counterparts make. The goal is to bridge this gap and ensure equitable wages for educators.

Eaton expressed optimism about the campaign's impact, predicting its significance will be recognized in future decades. "There are few opportunities in any one of our lives where you get to be on the ground floor of something that will be talked about for many, many years to come," she said.

Terry Bolinger, a middle school religion teacher at Magdalen, highlighted the financial challenges faced by Catholic school teachers despite their fulfilling work. Bolinger hopes that these endowments will provide more financial security and encourage young educators to pursue teaching in Catholic schools. She noted that many young adults opt out due to salary concerns but hopes this initiative will change that perception.

Bolinger also pointed out that investing in teacher salaries contributes to the vitality of Catholic education by allowing educators to focus on their vocation without financial stress. Teachers feel more appreciated and prioritized through this campaign effort.

More information about the Fully Alive! Campaign’s initiatives can be found at OneFamilyFullyAlive.org.