Dr. Marco Clark (bmhs.org)

Teachers and catechists will have more opportunity to network with colleagues and discuss their work at this year’s Fall Conference.

Set for Friday, Oct. 25, at St. Joseph, Rice Lake, the Diocese of Superior’s 57th Annual Fall Conference will include a 9 a.m. opening Mass with Bishop James P. Powers, keynote addresses by Dr. Marco Clark, and two afternoon sessions.

New this year is a chance for educators to divide into grade-based sessions during lunchtime.

“Schools in particular have asked for the opportunity for grade-level discussions,” said organizer Kathy Drinkwine, diocesan safe environment coordinator. “We have tried something along those lines in the past, but it was combined schools and RE (religious education) …. This year, schools will have their discussions, and RE will have theirs. The plan is for them to pick up their lunches and go off to their discussion space.”

The sectionals that follow are also geared toward school issues and religious education issues, Drinkwine added.

This year’s theme is “Lead, Learn, Proclaim, Called by Name.” Registration opens at 8 a.m., and the conference concludes at 3:30 p.m.

Keynote presenter Dr. Clark, who is president and CEO of a Catholic college preparatory high school in Forestville, Maryland, will be assume the position of executive director of the Holy Cross Institute at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas.

The focus of his presentation is “Make God Known, Loved and Served.”

Through storytelling and real-life examples, Clark will share how teachers inform, form and transform students and the world by educating hearts and minds, cultivating a family spirit, teaching students all they should know, and providing encounters with the living Christ.

Clark has been involved in Catholic education as a teacher, coach, principal and administrator since 1989. He has degrees from the College of the Holy Cross, Bowie State University and Creighton University.

Attendees are asked to register by Thursday, Oct. 17, for early bird pricing.

Registration is due by Oct. 22. For information or to register, call Kathy Drinkwine, 715-394-0216, or email .