2022 Impact Report

IMPACT REPORT 2022

OUR MISSION

Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, a college preparatory, Catholic school for students of all faiths, nurtures and challenges young people to recognize and realize their full potential as they learn to love others, grow in their faiths, and serve the common good.

Letter from the President

December 2022

Dear Friends,

Ten years ago, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School opened with 124 students, 30 Job Partners, and glorious dreams. John McConnell, Sr. Regina Flanigan, IHM, Dr. Flannery O’Connor, and many other talented, generous individuals embraced the vision of this new model, destined to transform the way we think about education and work. Now, we are the largest school in the 38-school Cristo Rey Network.

Today, Cristo Rey delivers an excellent, proven education. In the past decade, we’ve supported hundreds of young people on their journey from high schoolers to college students to working professionals. As we begin our second decade, we will grow our impact, primarily by expanding programming to ensure that students graduate college-ready and career-prepared.

To that end, we have instituted two programs with tremendous results: Summer Bridge orients and engages our 9th graders and their families during a week-long, on-campus program in July. College Intensive offers our rising seniors a residential college experience in June, jumpstarting the application process and offering them a taste of college life.

We have also adapted the Work-Study Program to companies’ new realities, while welcoming 19 new job partners and focusing on “Jobs of the Future.” Finally, Horizons at Cristo Rey, our academic summer and after-school program for elementary school children, grows stronger in numbers and activities every year, preparing more children for competitive high schools like Cristo Rey.

Honored to serve as Cristo Rey’s second President on the cusp of a new era, I witness daily the unfailing commitment of our families, Trustees, faculty, staff, volunteers, job partners, and donors. On behalf of hundreds of remarkable young people, I cannot thank all of you enough.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Shoemaker President & CEO

Don Pearse Photographers

• Christian (Non-Catholic) 47%

• Catholic 34%

• Does Not Identify 7%

• Muslim 6%

• Buddhist 1%

• Other 5%

2%

1%

Enhancing our Curricula

Our Academic Renewal process began in 2019 as a result of evaluating our curricula through self-study for our Middle States accreditation and collecting feedback from Cristo Rey alumni in college. We identified a number of areas for improvement to better prepare students for college and careers. The information to follow details the work completed to date in each area of Academic Renewal. Cristo Rey plans to measure the effectiveness of these enhancements through PSAT and SAT scores, as well as high school and college graduation rates.

Mathematics

In collaboration with university professors from West Chester, Temple, and Villanova, our Math Faculty developed a new curriculum sequence called Integrated Math. Integrated Math is organized by concept benchmarks rather than by subject courses, a model which is common in most countries around the world and has proven results in increasing SAT scores in mathematics. Over a student’s first two and a half years at Cristo Rey, they will take Integrated Math, which combines topics in Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and more, allowing them to develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts with a focus on real-world implementation. In their junior year, students have the opportunity to choose a course track in Statistics or Calculus that they will take through senior year.

STEM

Through insights from Cristo Rey’s findings in our “Jobs of the Future” research report, as well as student career interest surveys and input from alumni, our Science Faculty developed a science curriculum to better prepare students for careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Cristo Rey partnered with Philadelphia Education Fund’s McKinney Center for STEM Education to collaborate in designing an integrated curriculum that combines topics from three STEM pathways – Life Sciences, Data Analytics and Engineering Design. After taking two years of Integrated Science, students choose a STEM pathway they would like to pursue in their junior and senior year. Our Science Team is working closely with the Work-Study Team to build STEM career exposure beginning freshman year by bringing STEM professionals into classes. We are also working to better align students’ interests in STEM with their Work-Study job opportunities.

“Enhancing the STEM curriculum has allowed us to leverage what makes us unique – our Work-Study Program. We want to be at the forefront when thinking about ‘jobs of the future’ for our students.”

- Adam Mesewicz, Science Faculty, STEM Coordinator

Literacy

The focus of the Literacy Curriculum Renewal is to improve the alignment between Cristo Rey literacy-based courses (also known as humanities courses) – English, History, Theology, and Latin – so the courses mutually support each other. Previously, these courses operated in silos, which led to some fragmentation in the curriculum and lack of cohesion between a student’s humanities classes. With support from partners at Villanova University, the Humanities Faculty at Cristo Rey has improved alignment of content and rubrics to reinforce literacy skillbuilding across each humanities course and accelerate student learning. Our goal is to guarantee that all freshmen are being taught the reading, writing, speaking, listening, research, and grammar skills needed to thrive in 10th grade, and so forth, to better prepare them for college.

Financial Literacy

Cristo Rey’s Financial Literacy Course launched in 2018 as a senior-level course to provide our students the basics of personal financial management. As we received feedback from alumni and gathered data on the impact of financial hardship on college persistence, it became clear we needed to expand our Financial Literacy curriculum. Thanks to the generous support of TD Bank, we were able to commit to an expansion in the 2022-2023 school year. Cristo Rey has partnered with Next Gen Personal Finance, supported by the Philadelphia Financial Scholars, to provide new curriculum resources, as well as professional development for faculty. We have added a junior-level Financial Literacy course and built financial literacy content into our Business Literacy curriculum, which is taken by all 9th and 10th graders to develop skills for the Work-Study Program. As a result of students receiving financial literacy education in all four years of high school, they will be better prepared for managing finances and student loans during and after college.

“Young people who can communicate well – in speaking and in writing –will find success in college and beyond; it’s our hope that this project sets them up for that success.”

-Erik Nelson, English Faculty, English Content Lead

Expanding Opportunities Outside the Classroom

Athletics & Extracurriculars

During the 2021-2022 year, the dedication and teamwork of our athletic teams showed results. Cristo Rey earned its first-ever title as League Champions in Boys’ Track & Field in the Penn Jersey Athletic Association (PJAA). Girls’ Softball, Boys’ Soccer, and Girls’ Track & Field Teams were runner-ups for their seasons. This school year, our programs continue to grow with the addition of Golf and Flag Football, as well as intramural sports. In 2022, we also officially became eligible for State Tournament Participation.

Clubs

Cristo Rey offers more than 20 clubs for students across varied interests, including Drama Club, Gardening Club, Robotics, and Choir. Our goal is to ensure every student feels they have a place at Cristo Rey with an avenue to explore their interests and opportunities to be student leaders. New in 2022, Cristo Rey’s Blue and Gold Council is leading school spirit through planning events such as Winter Formal, Blue Pride Week, school dances, fun outings, and Spirit Week.

House Program

This school year, Cristo Rey has reinstated and revamped the House program. House is our unique version of morning homeroom. House is not simply a space for attendance and announcements, but also offers opportunities for students to connect across grade levels. Led by junior and senior House Captains, our Student Life Team holds friendly competitions between Houses to get students engaged.

Grad@Grad

After returning from the isolation of virtual learning, our Student Life Team launched a new initiative to rebuild our school community culture and increase student engagement. To do this, we have partnered with more than 20 organizations across the city to provide students with learning activities that are rooted in the values we aim to equip our graduates with by graduation, known as our Grad@Grad Program. Activities include creating pottery at the Clay Studio, learning graphic design at Immortal Vision Studios, viewing art at the Barnes Museum, and rock climbing at Philadelphia Rock Gym, to name a few.

Campus Ministry

Cristo Rey takes pride in its identity as a “Catholic school for students of all faiths.” Our Campus Ministry program provides opportunities for students to develop a sense of purpose and grow in their faiths through inclusive prayer services, retreats, and social justice engagement. This fall, 20 students visited Washington, DC to attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice where they convened with other change-making students across the country to discuss social justice issues.

Modernizing the Work-Study Program

The Cristo Rey Work-Study Program continues to adapt to the new corporate environment. We now offer our partners a hybrid model, aligning the days students go to work with the days employees are in the office.

More importantly, we are continuing to invest in our students’ learning to better prepare them for the workforce. Through our curriculum enhancements (see pages 7-9), students are learning career-critical material, like data analytics and the foundations of engineering, and applying their learning to real-world scenarios. Together, our curricula and the Work-Study Program are better preparing students for their jobs today and in the future.

Job partners’ investment in our students exposes them to industries and careers that they might not have considered before. As students have the opportunity to explore career pathways, job partners are building pipelines for a diverse, talented workforce ready to confront the complex challenges of our ever-changing world.

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRACK

“I want to be a hedge fund manager.” That’s what Zakhiir Jackson, Class of 2022, said to his supervisor at Conestoga Capital Advisors on his first day of work in his senior year. With prior experience in investment management from his Work-Study job at Hamilton Lane, Zakhiir arrived at the investment advisory firm Conestoga Capital motivated and eager to learn.

“He hit the ground running. He started joining calls with portfolio companies, meeting with portfolio managers and learning the different ways to analyze a company,” said Christina Kowalski, Head Trader and Operations Analyst at Conestoga Capital and Zakhiir’s supervisor. Realizing Zakhiir’s knowledge and interest in the industry, Christina wanted to provide him real, hands-on experience and opportunities to meet with other colleagues at the firm to learn about their roles.

“I was held accountable. They didn’t treat me like a child and they gave me real work,” said Zakhiir. His favorite day was sitting at the trading desk with Christina and learning different trading platforms and types of trades. “Conestoga Capital gave me opportunities to dive deep into work that I was itching to do and grow my knowledge in investing. I now know that [Finance] is a career I want to pursue.”

In Fall 2022, Zakhiir began his first year at Penn State, studying Finance and Business Economics on a Track & Field Scholarship. He has also started his own clothing company and attributes Cristo Rey and the Work-Study Program to his professional growth at a young age.

Now in their second year as a Work-Study Partner, Conestoga Capital Advisors is excited to be sharing their passion for the investment field with younger generations. “The program is a great way to provide opportunities for students in underserved communities, while exposing our field to diverse talent,” said Bob Mitchell, Managing Director at Conestoga Capital. “We look forward to providing jobs many years into the future.”

“ Conestoga Capital gave me opportunities to dive deep into work that I was itching to do and grow my knowledge in investing.”

-Zakhiir Jackson, Class of 2022

From Student Worker to Full-Time Employee

JUNIOR NGUYEN, CLASS OF 2018

Junior remembers taking biology for the first time with former Cristo Rey science teacher Ms. Eva Porter. “She sparked a curiosity in me and the content felt natural. I felt a calling towards science to learn more.”

Junior was able to further explore his interests when he was placed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for one of his WorkStudy jobs. Over the course of two years, he received a range of experiences in healthcare. “The Work-Study Program not only allowed me to explore my career interests, but taught me how to better communicate my ideas, how to build meaningful relationships, and how to be more confident and trusting of myself.”

At Haverford College, Junior used the skills he gained from Cristo Rey to share his gifts with his friends, mentors, and professors. Coming from an untraditional family background, and as a first-generation student, his community at Haverford College uplifted him to be the first in his family to receive a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology in the spring of 2022. Soon after, Junior began working at his former place of Work-Study employment, CHOP.

Returning full time to CHOP as a Research Technician II, Junior works in Dr. Scott Canna’s laboratory to study how the immune system defends, and at times overprotects, itself from diseases. “There’s been a steep learning curve and adjustment so far, but I persevere because I want to contribute to advancement in science and better understand diseases affecting children.”

Junior’s goals are to gain more confidence and experience in his scientific methods and first-author research papers before heading to graduate school for a Ph.D. in Biology. Junior envisions becoming a teacher just like Ms. Porter to pay it forward: “STEM can be inaccessible for many underrepresented students, such as myself, and I hope to bring change to education and make the sciences accessible to all people.”

ALZBERTA NEI, CLASS OF 2018

Alzberta began working at Deloitte at just 14 years old in the Cristo Rey Work-Study Program. Eight years later, Alzberta is now working at Deloitte full-time as a Technology Analyst in the Accounting and Internal Controls Department. “The Work-Study Program and experience I’ve had definitely gave me a head start. I already knew the culture, the people and the systems Deloitte uses.”

Alzberta added that the Work-Study Program broadened her perspective at a young age. She thought being successful meant becoming a lawyer or a doctor. “I realized that there’s many different career opportunities, and I was grateful that Deloitte gave me the chance to explore different facets of the professional services industry.”

Alzberta worked at Deloitte all four years of high school. Through her time there, she realized she had a passion and skill for data analytics, which influenced her decision to major in Management Information Systems (MIS) at Penn State University. During college, she kept in touch with her supervisors and landed summer internships at Deloitte, which allowed her to further explore career options through rotations in audit, risk and financial advisory.

After graduating in 2022 with a Bachelor’s of Science in MIS and seven years of internships under her belt, Alzberta is confident in her new role and excited to add client travel, as well as mentorship, to her resume. “My mentors have been so important to my growth over the years and I love that I can now ‘pay-it-forward’ by working with the current Cristo Rey students at Deloitte.”

MARILYN MEJIA, CLASS OF 2018

For Marilyn, ImageFirst has become more than just a place of work, it’s become a second family. “The people are amazing. My supervisor and other colleagues really took me under their wing in my freshman year and have supported me, not just in my professional experiences, but in my life experiences since then.”

Marilyn was part of the first cohort of students to work at ImageFirst in 2014 and quickly created a close bond with her supervisor that they still share today. After Marilyn graduated from Cristo Rey and began college at Gwynedd Mercy University, ImageFirst welcomed her back into their office to work over breaks and even offered her an opportunity to work for them remotely during her senior year.

In May 2022, she graduated from Gwynedd Mercy with her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and a job offer

from ImageFirst as a Sales Support Specialist. “I worked in the accounting department as an intern, so I’m excited to be learning something new in the sales department, and I hope in the future to do more in data analytics.”

Marilyn expressed her interest in data analytics to her manager and was provided the opportunity to lead a pilot program for tracking data in their database system. “I feel supported by the people here in my growth and career development. I’m so grateful for the opportunities they’ve provided me.”

Now on the other side of the Work-Study Program, Marilyn loves seeing the current Cristo Rey students who work at ImageFirst. “They’re always at my desk. It’s really nice to get to share my experience and trade stories with them. It’s a humbling experience.”

Work-Study Partners 2022-2023

Rey

In Summer 2022, Horizons at Cristo Rey welcomed back returning first and second graders, as well as a new cohort of kindergarteners, to our six-week summer academic and enrichment program for a total of 48 students. We continued to build on the strong foundation set in our founding year (Summer 2021) with program elements such as protected academic time, a diverse staff, and swim, dance, and yoga classes, as well as Cristo Rey high school student mentors. In addition, we implemented new offerings centered around our guiding principle that children cannot learn unless their basic needs and social-emotional needs are being met.

New Program Additions in 2022:

•Social-emotional learning (SEL) staff including a Licensed School Counselor and Wellness Coach

•Weekly Farm Stand in partnership with Sharing Excess

•Wellness Playroom equipped with sensory and non-sensory play items

•Weekly field trips including the African American Museum, the farm at W.B. Saul High School, and the Elmwood Zoo

The Horizons at Cristo Rey After School Program is in its second school year. We established the after school program after our pilot summer because we saw a need for continued academic and social-emotional support for our students. This school year, the program has been expanded from two days-per-week to three days-per-week. Cristo Rey High School students continue to be mentors and tutors for our children, in addition to our new Reading Specialist and Licensed School Counselor.

CRISTO REY PHILADELPHIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Robert J. Myers Partner, Ernst & Young Chair

Sr. Stephen Anne Roderiguez, IHM Ed.D. Councilor, IHM Congregational Leadership Vice Chair

Anthony C. Stevenson, Ed.D. Director of Human Resources, Tredyffrin Easttown School District Secretary

Bryan H. Carter President & CEO, Gesu School

Ruby R. Chandy CEO, Lumina Advisory Services

Bob Cohen President, Acme Corrugated Box Co.

Anthony Coletta, MD, MBA Venture Partner, Empactful Capital Inc.

Robert (Rip) Collins President & CEO, The Matworks Company, LLC

Priscilla Connolly Co-Founder, Cristo Rey Volunteers

Steve Delaney Partner, Deloitte LLP

Peter Ernst Executive Director, McCausland Foundation

Stephen Gleason President, Kairos Real Estate Partners, LLC

Michael J. Harris Retired Senior VP, Almos Corporation

Kerry Henkels Mother of four children

Andrew Hope Counsel, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

Meg Howley Executive Director, The Howley Foundation

Ken Kind President, van Ameringen Foundation

Jim Lawson Partner/Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates

Juan Lopez, EVP, CFO & Treasurer, Independence Blue Cross

John R. McConnell, Jr. President Emeritus, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School

Melissa McGlinn Mother of four children

Sr. Mary McNulty, IHM Principal, St. Francis de Sales School

Michael Moran Retired Managing Director, Guy Carpenter & Co.

Jibreel Murray, ‘16 Fixed Income Settlement Analyst, Vanguard

Rev. Michael Murray, OSFS Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

Fr. Donald Reilly, O.S.A., D. Min. Senior Advisor, Mission and Philanthropy Malvern Preparatory School

John Rooney Retired Partner, Deloitte LLP

Tyrrell Schmidt

EVP, US Chief Marketing Officer TD Bank

Thomas A. Shoemaker President and CEO, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School

Ian Swedish Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising

Sean Sweeney Director, 1251 Capital Group

Steve Tazza

Chief Operating Officer, White Label Communications

Rachel Ward Associate, Morgan Lewis

Fr. Brian Zumbrum, OSFS Campus Minister, Salesianum High School

CRISTO REY LEADERSHIP TEAM

Thomas A. Shoemaker President and CEO

Flannery O’Connor, Ed.D. Principal Joanna Wusinich, Esq. VP, Work-Study Program and Strategic Growth

Anna Winter VP, Advancement and Engagement

Keshema Davidson Director of Strategic Partnerships

Evelin Roman Director of Admissions and Family Engagement

Rich Pugh Director of Student Life