Bishop Shanahan High School Announces St. Francis Xavier Academic Achievement Program

Bishop Shanahan High School is proud to announce the creation of the St. Francis Xavier Academic Achievement Program, a new initiative designed to provide comprehensive learning support services to students with diagnosed learning differences. This innovative program reflects Shanahan’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, faith formation, and the success of every student.

The St. Francis Xavier Program will offer individualized academic support, including assistance with executive functioning, organization, study skills, and time management. It also includes a system for implementing accommodation plans tailored to each student’s specific needs. The program promotes a collaborative approach, engaging families, teachers, and students to ensure the most effective strategies are implemented both in and out of the classroom.

The program will be led by Mrs. Lauren Wochok, who joins Bishop Shanahan as the new Director of Learning Support. Mrs. Wochok brings more than 20 years of experience in education, most recently serving as Head of School at Valley Forge Military Academy, where she led the development and implementation of a school-wide system for learning accommodations, working closely with faculty, families, and counselors to ensure that students with IEPs and 504 Plans received the guidance and tools they needed to succeed. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Millersville University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Cabrini University, along with her Pennsylvania Principal Certification (K–12). Her professional background and educational philosophy are perfectly aligned with the mission of our new St. Francis Xavier Program, to uphold academic excellence while providing the individualized support necessary for all students to thrive.

In her role at Bishop Shanahan, Mrs. Wochok will collaborate with students, parents, and teachers to identify learning needs, implement accommodation plans, and foster executive functioning skills. She will also work to ensure our faculty are equipped with the training and resources needed for differentiated instruction and inclusive classroom strategies.

The St. Francis Xavier Program is more than just academic support—it’s a commitment to nurturing the full potential of every student. We are excited to welcome Mrs. Wochok to lead this mission-driven program that aligns with our core values as a Catholic school.

The St. Francis Xavier Academic Achievement Program is made possible by a grant from the Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education, the successor name to the Archdiocesan Educational Fund. This charitable organization was created and funded by Matthew H. McCloskey, Jr. (1893-1973), building contractor and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland (1962-64), in 1967 to advance Catholic education and evangelization throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The name of the Fund changed in February 2020.

For more information about the program or learning support at Bishop Shanahan, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs.