Archbishop Lyke School opened in 1993, but our legacy and history begin long before that.
Our School
When children come to Archbishop Lyke, they become more than students; they join a community with a rich past and a deep faith. Here, students grow into their fullest potential, with the knowledge, skills, and habits they need to thrive.
At Archbishop Lyke, we are people of faith—faith in God and in the future of our young people. As Catholic schools in southeast Cleveland have done for generations, we educate and form children so that they can flourish as adults who can achieve their goals and make our world a better place.
By combining research-backed academics, daily routines that instill successful habits, and faith that we live out in service of each other, Archbishop Lyke educates the whole child and opens doors to a world of possibilities.
Archbishop Lyke School is the namesake of a true pioneer, named the first African-American bishop of Cleveland in 1979 and appointed in 1991 to be the Archbishop of Atlanta, making him the highest-ranking Black clergyman in the American Church and just the second Black archbishop in American history.
The school established in his name comprises the legacy of 8 Catholic parish schools—Epiphany, Holy Family, Our Lady of Peace, St. Catherine, St. Cecilia, St. Henry, St. Mary Czestochowa, and St. Timothy—and an interparochial school, Mt. Pleasant Catholic, which have been serving southeast Cleveland since 1899. Archbishop Lyke Catholic School and all the school communities that formed it have been anchors of faith, hope, and love in Cleveland for 120 years and counting.
Archbishop Lyke · Epiphany · Holy Family · Mt. Pleasant Catholic · Our Lady of Peace
St. Catherine · St. Cecilia · St. Henry · St. Mary of Czestochowa · St. Timothy
TEN SCHOOLS – TEN TRADITIONS – TEN LEGACIES – ONE MISSION
Our Namesake: Archbishop James Patterson Lyke, OFM
James Patterson Lyke was a Franciscan priest, a teacher, a pastor, the first African-American Bishop in Cleveland, Archbishop of Atlanta, and a humble servant of God. The symbol of our school—a bishop’s hat—reminds us to walk in the footsteps of this righteous man, who was passionately committed to the struggles of bringing equal opportunity to all people, especially to his brothers and sisters in the Black community.
During his eleven years as an Auxiliary Bishop in Cleveland, he worked as a peacemaker, promoting the Catholic values which taught him “that every person, no matter how poor, is created in God’s image and is worthy of my respect. I have a responsibility to help my brothers and sisters.” Archbishop Lyke students are challenged to honor his heritage by claiming his motto: Christ our Peace.
Along with Archbishop Lyke, we believe that education is the key to the future for our young people. His vision for the education of urban children working toward academic excellence and remembering their heritage is lived out at the school named in his honor.
Core Values
At Archbishop Lyke, as in all Partnership Schools, we embrace four core values that guide all we do: integrity, humility, hard work, and service.
Integrity
I watch what I do to see what I believe.
– Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ
Integrity means that our actions reflect our beliefs and live up to our moral ideals. We hold all in our communities to the highest academic and ethical standards, both within the walls of our school buildings and as representatives in our communities. As we equip our students with a clear understanding of the moral principles and virtues of the Catholic faith, we instill habits of honesty, forthrightness, and respect for themselves and others.
Humility
Those who humble themselves will be exalted.
– Luke 14:11
Integrity means that our actions reflect our beliefs and live up to our moral ideals. We hold all in our communities to the highest academic and ethical standards, both within the walls of our school buildings and as representatives in our communities. As we equip our students with a clear understanding of the moral principles and virtues of the Catholic faith, we instill habits of honesty, forthrightness, and respect for themselves and others.
Hard Work
If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
– Frederick Douglass
Each of us is made uniquely by God for greatness. In order to fully develop the gifts God gave us, hard work provides opportunities for us to sharpen our skills, develop our talents, and strengthen our minds and hearts for life’s journey. Effort, persistence, and determination are essential to learning and success in life. Hope alone does not result in success; we seek to instill in our students a work ethic marked by tenacity, stamina, and zeal.
Service
Only a life lived for others is worthwhile.
– Albert Einstein
At Partnership Schools, we believe that we are made for each other, so we aim to develop young men and women for others. When we see God in others, we think less of ourselves and so put others first. Our teachers “fan into a flame the gifts God gave” each child (2 Timothy 1), cultivating their gifts, broadening their understanding of the community and the world, and offering their gifts in service of our local neighborhood.
Root Beliefs
At Archbishop Lyke, our community embraces the following set of root beliefs that guide our actions, our words, and our decisions. These beliefs inform each aspect of our school—our policies, procedures, rituals, routines, relationships, and even the physical spaces.
We believe…
- Each one unique and better together.
- God created us for greatness.
- We can do hard things.
- Excellence happens on purpose.
Leadership Team
Principal Nancy Lynch and a caring support team work on behalf of Archbishop Lyke’s students, families, and staff every day.
Nancy Lynch, Principal
nlynch@archbishoplykeschool.org
Sheronda Adams, Director of School Operations
sadams@
Jackie Dillard, Operations Associate
jdillard@archbishoplykeschool.org
