Seton Education Partners: Expanding Educational Opportunities in Underserved Communities
Seton Education Partners is a national, 501(c)3 not-for-profit education organization inspired by the life of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Founded in 2009 by KIPP Foundation pioneer Scott W. Hamilton and Teach for America alumna Stephanie Saroki de García, Seton is committed to ensuring that children in underserved communities develop the knowledge, skills, and character traits necessary to excel academically and pursue lives of meaning and purpose.
Mission and Vision
SETON EDUCATION PARTNERS is committed to reviving and expanding opportunities for disadvantaged children in America to receive an academically excellent and vibrantly Catholic education. Seton was born of the belief that a tremendous opportunity exists to revitalize urban Catholic schools in America and strengthen the education they provide. The challenges are significant, to be sure, but with an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, much can and should be done, not only to preserve this national treasure, but also to build on its foundation for the benefit of thousands of children in America's poorest neighborhoods.
Seton expands opportunities for parents in underserved communities to choose an academically excellent, character rich and-for those who seek it-vibrantly Catholic education for their children.
Core Values
As a Catholic organization, Seton's plans and actions are anchored in the Catholic Church and its cornerstone, Jesus Christ. Recognizing the beauty inherent in the Catholic tradition, they are faithful to and celebrate the Church’s teachings. They strive, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to bring themselves and others closer to Jesus and His Church in everything they do.
Seton believes everyone is capable of excellence, and they expect nothing less from themselves, their colleagues, and the families and children they serve. They measure their success by the results they achieve-in partnership with their children, families, and Church. When they fail, they admit their mistakes, learn from them, adapt their actions, and try again until they succeed.
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As Scripture teaches, they believe it takes many parts to form One Body. Thus, they bring their God-given talents to advance the work of all of Seton, never losing sight of the broader aims of the whole organization. Each of Seton's Core Values is rooted in Jesus Christ, His Church, and the Holy Spirit.
The Need for Innovation in Catholic Education
Catholic schools have historically played a vital role in educating children, particularly in underserved communities. Despite their well-established “brand name” and demonstrated success building the knowledge, skills, and character of children in America’s most underserved neighborhoods for more than a century, Catholic schools have seen enrollment plummet by more than 50 percent over the last four decades. Since 2010, more than 1,400 Catholic schools have been closed or consolidated, accelerating a school closure rate of about 1,000 per decade since 1960. Most of these were elementary schools in inner cities, serving large numbers of Hispanic and African American children.
Seton Education Partners was founded after witnessing the devastation caused by the closing of Catholic schools across the country. They recognized the need to do something bold, to provide outstanding spiritual and educational opportunities for underserved communities, and to ensure these opportunities were sustainable.
They aim to preserve the best of Catholic education’s rich tradition-one that honors each child, parent, and teacher’s inherent dignity, while also nurturing the whole person: mind, body and spirit. Yet they know the financial model for parochial schooling no longer works for the underserved, and new structures are required to find a way forward.
Seton's Innovative Models and Programs
Since its founding, Seton has pioneered and grown two school models and three programs in service of its mission. Seton sees itself as critical partners to bishops, Catholic school superintendents, and leaders of religious orders who seek new ways to educate children in underserved communities. They also work hand in hand with various community partners who desire to make a life-changing impact on the families they serve. Most importantly, they partner with parents to give their children the education they deserve. Since our founding, we have pioneered three financially sustainable models for achieving whole-child education.
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Brilla Schools Network and Brillante Academy
The Charter Schools Initiative, comprised of the Brilla Schools Network and Brillante Academy, launches new public charter schools to serve children in underserved neighborhoods with few academically excellent and character-building schooling options. Seton’s first charter school, Brilla College Prep, opened in August of 2013 with 200 kindergarten and first graders, and today serves more than 1,600 children in kindergarten through eighth grade across five campuses. More than 90 percent of students qualify for the federal meals program; one in five has special needs; and one in three is an English Language Learner.
Brilla, which means “shine” in Spanish, seeks to help children lead lives of excellence, virtue, and purpose. We do this by leveraging the best instructional practices of model charter schools-a longer school day and year, technology-based blended learning to deliver individualized instruction, intensive support and coaching of teachers-and combining this with a robust character education program that is centered around the cardinal virtues of courage, justice, wisdom, and self-control.
Seton is committed to aggressively pursuing the launch of three more campuses in New York City over the next several years, and we also plan to launch a sister school for the 2023-24 school year, called Brillante Academy, in Texas. Both Brilla and Brillante are identical when it comes to the cornerstones and key features, but Brillante schools also offer two-way dual-language immersion and represent a new geography for Seton.
BRILLANTE ACADEMY - BRILLANTE ACADEMY ('BRILLANTE') IS A 501(C)(3) CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORK SEEKING TO ENSURE CHILDREN IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO A HOLISTIC EDUCATION THAT PRODUCES OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC GROWTH, STRONG MORAL CHARACTER, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.
BRILLA CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORK NEW YORK - BRILLA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORK - NEW YORK ("NY") IS A 501(C)(3) CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORK LOCATED IN BRONX, NY, INSPIRED BY THE CLASSICAL EDUCATION TRADITION THAT AIMS TO HELP STUDENTS GROW INTELLECTUALLY, SOCIALLY, AND PHYSICALLY INTO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF GOOD CHARACTER AND SPIRIT; AND TO BE PREPARED FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND BEYOND.
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Seton Teaching Fellows
SETON TEACHING FELLOWS - A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN SERVICE, COMMUNITY BUILDING, FAITH AND TEACHING. THE GRADUATES CO-TEACH IN A CLASSROOM AT THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARTER SCHOOLS AND LEAD CLASSES AT EL CAMINO.
Missionaries. Catechists. Seton Teaching Fellows give one bold year to teach the faith and love students in underserved communities. They live in community and receive professional formation-with free housing and no fundraising-so they can pour themselves into what matters most.
- That's the number of children who have joined the Catholic Church through baptism as a result of our El Camino program. It's impressive, but many more children and families are waiting to be introduced to Christ in The Bronx. Join us as an El Camino Program Manager to coach and develop Seton Teaching Fellows, manage program logistics, and strengthen collaboration between our partners and us. If you have a heart for mission, you're highly organized, and you're skilled in coaching educators, then apply today!
Gratitude and Community
Seton emphasizes gratitude and community in its work. This is reflected in their approach to conflict resolution, where they intentionally begin by remembering the gifts and talents their teammates bring, centering their efforts in their shared humanity.
Seton Education Partners has been named a 2025-2026 grantee of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation! With their generous support, we can expand our work to develop Brilla Horizon Family Resource Center, a dedicated space that connects families at Brilla Schools in the Bronx to health, education, and community support. We are deeply grateful for the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation team and look forward to sharing the impact we’re making together.
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