Judith Wylie
PARISH SCHOOLS OF RELIGION
Education in the Catholic Faith for All Children
Judith M. Wylie, Ed.D.
Program Consultant for PSR Catechesis
As adults in the Bishop Helmsing Institute strengthen their knowledge and formation in the Catholic Faith, many wish to share that great gift with the youngest of the Faithful in the Parish Schools of Religion. Dr. Wylie’s work with BHI is to help focus that desire by means of support and development for catechists.
Biography
A lifelong Catholic, Dr. Wylie was educated in the Catholic schools of Dallas, Texas, graduating in the Honors Program at Ursuline Academy and going on to the Honors Program at University of Dallas for a B.A. in English and additional work in Philosophy. Her M.Ed. is in Curriculum-Instruction, and her Ed.D. is in Educational Administration-Supervision. She holds state teaching certification in various levels.
In addition to her background in traditional classroom education, Dr. Wylie is certified in Montessori education of children ages 3-9, is trained in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and is a teacher-trainer for the Montessori Primary level (ages 3-6). Her certification for Montessori Elementary is from the American Montessori Society, which awarded her a national prize for her study relevant to administrative leadership and assessment in Montessori programs. She worked under, and was mentored by, Professor Elizabeth Caspari, who was trained by Dr. Maria Montessori herself, an opportunity prized by Dr. Wylie for its direct line of authenticity in understanding and practice. The teacher-education program developed by Dr. Wylie earned transferable credit in two state universities.
In religious education, Dr. Wylie received Pontifical Certification from Our Lady of Peace Pontifical Institute for Catechetics in Beaverton, Oregon, and served as Director of Religious Education for several years in a large parish program. Other work has included helping to found a Catholic book and gift shop, consultant for home-schoolers and for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd teachers, NIH testing consultant for early indications/interventions of reading difficulties, founding a private Catholic PK-8 school, foster homes caseworker, and, not least, mother and grandmother.
Rest-and-recreation pastimes include reading, cooking, visits and dinner parties with friends and family, gardening, camping out on Scout trips.
“Catechesis [gives] a foundation to conversion … providing Christian life with a basic structure.”
-General Directory for Catechesis (Congregation for the Clergy, 1997)