Fr. Rose receives National Catholic Educational Association award!
TOLEDO, Ohio – Rev. Geoffrey N. Rose, OSFS, President of St. Francis de Sales School, has been named a 2026 Lead. Learn. Proclaim. award recipient by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).
The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Catholic school education through visionary leadership, the promotion of academic excellence, and a deep commitment to the mission of the Catholic Church in education.
Fr. Rose has dedicated more than 25 years to Catholic education, serving as a teacher, campus minister, and educational leader committed to forming young people through faith-centered leadership, academic excellence, and service.
Since becoming President of St. Francis de Sales School, Fr. Rose has led several initiatives that have strengthened the school’s mission and long-term vitality. Under his leadership, the school expanded to include grades 7 and 8, broadening its ability to serve families seeking a continuous Catholic educational experience. He has also worked to strengthen the school’s endowment, supporting the long-term sustainability of its academic and formation programs.
Before becoming an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, Fr. Rose served in municipal, state, and federal public leadership roles, experience that continues to inform his collaborative and strategic approach to Catholic education. He also helped lead the creation of a bipartisan statement on school choice in Ohio, signed by both public and private school leaders.
In addition to his work in education, Fr. Rose is an accomplished preacher and retreat leader who regularly offers parish missions, conferences, and retreats across the United States and internationally. He is also the founder of Mission for Wisdom & Hope, an initiative supporting educational opportunities for underserved communities around the world.
Catholic education is about forming the whole person, mind, heart, and soul, so that young people discover their gifts and place them at the service of others,” Fr. Rose said, “St. Francis de Sales taught that nothing is so strong as gentleness. That spirit continues to guide the way we accompany and form young people today.
About the National Catholic Educational Association
NCEA is the largest, private professional education association in the world. NCEA works with Catholic educators to support ongoing faith formation and the teaching mission of the Catholic Church. Membership includes nearly 140,000 educators serving 1.6 million students in Catholic education.
St. Francis de Sales School is a Catholic college preparatory school community for young men. It promotes the academic, spiritual, social, and physical development of our students in order to produce leaders in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales, who challenges us to “be who we are and be that well.”
Official Press Release Here