Acknowledging the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (SCLs) as a cornerstone of support, Kathleen Hanlon, president of Cristo Rey Kansas City High School, described the college preparatory school as strong with outstanding faculty and staff and many initiatives underway to further enhance the learning environment.

Kathleen provided an annual update to the SCLs on Monday, Dec. 12 at the Mother House in Leavenworth. The program was livestreamed to the larger Community. The SCLs sponsor the Kansas City, Mo., high school that offers an innovative corporate work study program to culturally diverse students with economic need.

In her report, Kathleen discussed advances Cristo Rey has made integrating technology into learning. Among other major accomplishments she included staff professional development to facilitate this integration, renovation of the facility and the addition of new classrooms. She said Cristo Rey has grown in academic strength with work remaining to improve overall levels of literacy in all content areas for all students. Among other challenges, Kathleen cited retention; identification of a larger pool of partners to employ students; and efforts to engage and involve parents.

“Our students have taken such pride in the continuous development of the school and campus,” she said. “We have marvelous partners among employers, funders and benefactors. People believe in what we are doing. We want to be the school of choice for any student who needs us, offer college preparatory education and provide activities students want.

“We can be truly proud of our accomplishments that are directed toward helping students become better students and to succeed,” she said.

Kathleen has served as president of Cristo Rey Kansas City since 2012 and will be leaving her post at the end of the academic year. She succeeded Sister Vickie Perkins who served as the founding president of the high school that is part of the national Cristo Rey network.