BLUEWHITE SCHOOL NEWS

Outstanding Faculty

CENTRAL CATHOLIC SR. ARMY INSTRUCTOR HONORED 3X AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

As U.S. Army CPT Dwayne Rhodes neared retirement in 2017, he began exploring what to do with the skills he had developed over his years in the military. Over the course of his career, he became a dedicated program and managerial executive with more than 20 years’ experience in Leadership/Management with a BS in Health Care Management. His position required that he have a strong acumen for coaching, teaching, and mentoring his team members.

That skill set proved to be a guiding force. One of his own mentors believed he would be an exceptional coach, teacher and mentor for young men and women, and suggested he explore a new career in education.

That pivotal conversation led CPT Rhodes to a teaching career at Central Catholic High School four years ago. He says he has found a new, meaningful purpose leading the school’s Department of Military Science as the JROTC Senior Army Instructor at Central, overseeing a program that includes students from CCHS as well as girls from Providence and Incarnate Word High Schools. His goal, he says, is on developing young men and women of character regardless of any future military aspirations. He focuses on growing men and women of God, and teaching and modeling real world traits such as leadership, fairness, honesty, empathy, and responsibility.

His passion for teaching and his connection with his students over the past several years have not gone unnoticed by his both his students and fellow teachers. This year, CPT Rhodes received the greatest of accomplishments and compliments as an educator – being nominated by his peers and awarded Teacher of the Year three-times over, as Central Catholic Teacher of the Year, Archdiocesan Educator of the Year, and The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year Award, representing not just Central Catholic and the city of San Antonio, but the entire state.

One fellow staff member who nominated CPT Rhodes stated in their nomination,

“His personal mantra at Central Catholic High School is ‘to coach, teach, and mentor young adults of character and integrity who are compassionate and will become inspiring leaders and visionaries for our organization and ultimately our world.’ CPT Rhodes has gone above and beyond in developing young men with character as he himself is an exceptional role model. Each year, CCHS has had at least one student receive an appointment to one of the U.S Service Academies and I attribute this greatly in part to the teaching and relationship that CPT Rhodes has established with these young men. He is fair, honest, empathetic, and hardworking.”

CPT Rhodes says he is humbled and honored to be recognized by his peers.

“I never imagined that I would be viewed by my peers in such a way,” he said. “I go to work and do the best I can to make the young men (and women) see the benefit in being a faith-driven valuebased individual in life. So, I get up every day with a tremendous passion to get in the building to lay down foundations and extraordinary principles that made me who am.

Our job is to make better citizens out of these young men and women. That’s our job.”

“CPT Rhodes receiving this award is a testament to his leadership and his dedication to our boys, our school, the San Antonio community, and, of course, our country,” said Ali Goljahmofrad, Dean of Students at Central Catholic.

CCHS congratulates CPT Rhodes on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to his continued leadership in the years to come.