Gloria DeGaetano, founder and CEO of the Parent Coaching Institute, has been awarded a one-month writers' residency from the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania. The residency competition emphasized themes of justice and compassion, initiatives championed by Sister Joan Chittister, an advocate for justice, peace, and equality for women worldwide.
DeGaetano expressed both excitement and surprise at the selection, noting she is working on a book about technology and families with a different perspective than her previous works. She submitted a proposal upon learning about the competition, citing deep respect for Sister Joan Chittister, whom she described as one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time.
The residency will take place in March 2026 at the Benedictine monastery, providing room and board in a secluded environment surrounded by nature. DeGaetano views this as a positive disruption from her daily routine at the PCI office and her home, allowing concentrated work on her manuscript. She aims to write between 30,000 and 50,000 words during the residency, potentially completing most of the first draft given her typical daily output of 1,000-2,000 words on productive days.
The Benedictine Sisters of Erie have a history dating back to 1035 in Germany, with sisters arriving in Pennsylvania in 1852 to educate children of German immigrants. Their longstanding commitment includes supporting the poor and advocating for social justice. The writers' residency represents one of their many ministries, which also include the Inner City Neighborhood Art House offering arts classes to at-risk children, Benetwood Apartments providing low-income housing for elderly and handicapped persons, and Monasteries of the Heart, an online community promoting Benedictine values.
This recognition matters because it connects professional achievement in family education with broader social justice movements. The Parent Coaching Institute is recognized as an innovative leader in parent coach training through its Parent Coach Certification® program offered in affiliation with Southern New Hampshire University. The program enrolls family support experts through an application process, with applications now being accepted for the 2026 Spring Term beginning in late February. Those applying before December 31, 2025 receive a $500 tuition discount, with a final deadline of February 1. More information is available at https://www.ThePCI.org.
The implications of this residency extend beyond individual accomplishment, demonstrating how specialized professional fields intersect with humanitarian values. As technology increasingly impacts family dynamics, DeGaetano's forthcoming book could provide valuable insights while being developed in an environment dedicated to justice and compassion. This alignment between professional work and social principles highlights how educational leadership can contribute to broader societal conversations about family wellbeing in the digital age.
