Administrators with Cristo Rey College Preparatory High School in Las Vegas made a field trip last week to the Chicago area. President Lisa Burkhead, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Patrick Miller and CFO Sandy Tsutahara traveled east at the invitation of Preston Kendall, President of Cristo Rey St. Martin in Waukegan, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this year.
The day included a visit at the Viatorian Province Center, where Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial, welcomed them.
(Clockwise) Lisa Burkhead, Fr. Mark Francis, Patrick Miller, Preston Kendall, Jim Thomas, Fr. Tom von Behren and Sandy Tsutahara
“We’re always pleased to be able to share resources with Cristo Rey St. Viator,” Fr. Francis said.
Joining them at the end of the day were Fr. Thomas von Behren, CSV, first president of Cristo Rey St. Viator when it opened in 2019 and Associate Jim Thomas, CFO of the Viatorian Community and a trustee of Cristo Rey St. Martin.
The trip was designed to help CRSV administrators meet with presidents of other Cristo Rey schools, as well as the president of the Cristo Rey Network, to share best practices.
At the beginning of their day, Preston Kendall showed them Cristo Rey St. Martin, which opened in 2004. Viatorians have been an endorsing community of the school since its start and have served on its faculty and staff, in administration and on its board of trustees. In part, the success of CRSM drew Viatorians to start their own Cristo Rey school in Las Vegas.
Preston Kendall in front of a snapshot of the student body at Cristo Rey St. Marin
There, the CRSV administrators met with Kelby Woodard, President and CEO of the national Cristo Rey Network, as well as with the presidents of Cristo Rey Chicago and Cristo Rey Milwaukee.
These schools are among 39 college preparatory schools across 24 states in the Cristo Rey Network. In partnership with 34 sponsoring groups, its distinct campuses are Catholic in identity and mission, true to the religious charism of their respective order.
“Having time to collaborate with our sister school, CRSM, was extremely valuable,” Mrs. Burkhead added. “We are blessed to be able to work together and discuss best practices on behalf of all our students.”