Annual Report 2011-2012

Giving Time and Talents
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School volunteers are essential to our
mission. Dedicated professionals and local college students give
of their time each day to support our students in their journey to
college graduation. When Tom Coulter, long-time Cristo Rey Jesuit
High School volunteer and supporter, introduced Richard Geis to
our school, it was the beginning of a full-time commitment for Geis
and a life-long friendship.
Geis admits that the Cristo Rey model immediately caught his
attention, “I thought, wow, that’s interesting. I’ll find out more
about it.” Soon after, Geis found himself in Math teacher Don
Beach’s classroom… all day, almost every day of the week.
“He trained me. He put me to work.”
Putting in just about as many hours as regular staff members, Geis is a staple in Beach’s classroom four days a week. “It’s
really fun because I feel like I can really help; I can really make a difference.”
At graduation last June, Geis was able to witness the fruits of his labors. He was impressed with the gratitude and joy of
both students and their families. “From all of the cheering and clapping, you could tell how much they appreciate Cristo Rey.”
Geis is too modest to take any credit for the role that he plays at the school. He signs his emails “Assistant to the
assistant, to the aide third-removed, for Mr. Beach.” “I do it for the students, truly. They benefit from anything I can do
to make Mr. Beach’s job easier.”
To Geis, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is a unique opportunity not only for him, but for our students. “I never saw a high
school where the principal greeted everyone outside at the door in the morning. That’s incredible.”
“This is a perfect model. You have teachers here who are dedicated! And you continue to support students all the way
to college. I hope this just keeps on growing and growing,” says Geis.
Our students achieve more because of volunteers like Richard Geis, who truly become part of our community.
Goodbye Mortgage
One thing that we don’t have more of after the 2011-12 school year are
mortgage payments. Thanks to our founding leadership, board of directors,
and generous benefactors, we are thrilled to announce that as of July 2012
the mortgage on our building is paid off.
To celebrate the milestone, we invited school founders to help us shred the
mortgage that was issued back in 2006 when ground was broken on the Colin
Powell Youth Leadership Center. Among the guests were Pat and Ann Ryan
and Colleen Ryan (on the left with current board chair, Tim Kosiek, founding
board chair, Brian Murray, and Fr. Tim Manatt, S. J.). Ryan Companies’ support
and partnership was fundamental to the construction of the Colin Powell Youth
Leadership Center. Pat Ryan shared, “Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is one of the
best things Ryan Companies has ever done.”
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