Preparing to found a school

I enrolled at Penn GSE wanting to be a better principal. I left with a vison for how I could help create Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, part of a national network of independent schools dedicated to students who otherwise could not afford a private college preparatory program.

My three years were extremely academically challenging, but they pushed my thinking and gave me the confidence to say, ‘I can start a school, and through Cristo Rey, we can help close the achievement gap.’ If I didn’t go to Penn GSE, I’m not sure I would have been ready to tackle that challenge.

Despite the rigorous work, I looked forward to my weekends at Penn. My cohort was filled with school leaders from across the country working in public, private, and independent schools serving a diverse range of students with a distinct set of needs. They brought different approaches to solving problems, and I left every Sunday inspired, challenged, and invigorated.

My third year in the program was also my planning year for Cristo Rey. I can trace the philosophy of teachers and administrators directly to lessons I learned at Penn GSE. Everything we do is practice. I understood we have to provide the appropriate lens to look at our practice, see what we’re doing well, and see where we need to grow.