With the support of the Cristo Rey Network, a feasibility study is launched in April 2013 by Gunnar Rawlings in office space donated by Ursuline Academy of Dallas.
The feasibility study requires the following:
Raise $2.5 million in seed money
Survey the community regarding need
Send 30 letters of introduction to businesses
Create a Board of Directors and hire a school president
Find a viable campus location
FEASIBILITY STUDY COMMITTEE:
Gerald J. (Gerry) Reihsen, III
Sister Dawn Achs, S.S.N.D.
Cindi Anthony
Sister Gloria Cain, S.S.N.D.
Win Bell
Patrick G. Cox
Alfredo Duarte
Michael A. (Mike) Earsing
Laura A. Einspanier
Raul Estrada
William K. (Bill) Gordon III, Ph.D.
Holly O. Hughes
Reverend Monsignor Milam Joseph
Gretchen Z. Kane
Bill Keffler
Jack Lowe, Jr.
Nathan McClellan
Tom McNearney
Brian D. Melton
Karl G. Nelson
Mark A. Shank
Michael J. Sorrell
Michael F. Terry
Admiral Patrick M. (Pat) Walsh
Sarah L. Warnecke
Together they work to assemble a diverse and committed board of directors and recruit a team of founding administrators. Holly Hughes is named Board Chair and a national search appoints Kelby Woodard CRD’s Founding President.
The school’s Leadership Team also includes:
Susan Jenevein,
Director of Development
Gunnar Rawlings,
Director of Corporate Work Study
Christine Roman,
Principal and Executive Director
Susana Perez,
Director of Admissions
The Feasibility Committee also works to garner Diocesan, civic and corporate support, and a retail space on Buckner Boulevard in Pleasant Grove is identified as the prime location for the CRD campus. With support from Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, the St. Augustine location is selected as the new home of Cristo Rey Dallas, and work begins to update the elementary school to meet the needs of a college prep high school.
Director of Admissions Susana Perez visits area Catholic churches and schools, often making presentations to prospective families during mass or at confirmation classes. Applications are received, and the first freshman class of students begin their CRD journey by attending the ¡Viva! summer job training program. More than 1,000 students, parents and Job Partners attend the first annual Draft Day event where students learn their job assignments and meet their future employers.
On August 14, 2015, the doors open to Cristo Rey Dallas, with 126 freshmen from 21 zip codes and 32 founding Job Partners including PwC, AT&T, Hunt Oil Company and United Way of Metropolitan
Dallas and more. In December, the tight-knit community comes together to mourn the passing of freshman Daniel Venegas.
Daniel’s “Protect the Dream” reflection beautifully captures the CRD students’ commitment to making a better life for their families.
Protect the Dream
By Daniel Venegas, Class of 2019
I want to be able to go to college knowing
my whole life is about to change.
I want to be able to have the privilege of
learning how to become a lawyer.
I want to see my family crying with joy at
the fact that I just walked across the stage
and graduated and that I have accomplished
my huge goal of making it so far.
I will work so hard to provide for them and
all of my close friends and loved ones.
I want to be someone meaningful in life,
someone whose impact will be recognized.
I want to change the minds of people
who might doubt me and prove that I can
protect my dream each and every day.
Through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, CRD students begin helping underserved
neighbors in Pleasant Grove by providing free tax preparation. The CRD Fine Arts program expands to include Music and Theatre classes, and the boys soccer team earns district recognition from the Texas Association of Private and Parocial Schools. Led by Capital Campaign Chairs Mary Blake and Chuck Meadows, CRD launches Phase I of a successful $10 million capital campaign for the construction of the 32,000 square foot Academic Center.
Lead donors for the Academic Center include:
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Anthony
Constantin Foundation
Harold Simmons Foundation
Hillcrest Foundation
Hoblitzelle Foundation
Theodore and Beulah Beasley Foundation
Mike and Mary Terry Family Foundation
Winn Family Foundation
In September, Hurricane Harvey devastates Houston with severe impact to students and families of Cristo Rey Jesuit College Prep. CRD students, administrators and families fill the school’s Corporate Work Study shuttles and caravan to Houston with boxes of food provided by Catholic Charities of
Dallas. They distribute food and help clear debris from the CRJ campus.
The first Junior Retreat is held and ends with the Junior Crossover Mass where students receive their “Protect the Dream” silver cross. The completed Academic Center brings more than 300 donors and community members together to attend the ribbon cutting. The building includes 12 classrooms, the TEAL learning center, administrative offices and more.
Plans are already underway to launch Phase II of the Capital Campaign to raise $14.6 million to build a 40,000 square foot Innovation Center. The school is awarded a lead gift of $911,000 from Crystal Charity Ball for the Corporate Work Study suite. CRD students partner with Catholic Charities Dallas and the North Texas Food Bank to open a food distribution site on campus providing more than 1,000 lbs. of food each week to families in need.
Families, Corporate Work Study Job Partners and community supporters fill the Meyerson Symphony
Center. Together the students, who call themselves “The OGs” have earned acceptance at 126 colleges and universities including Georgetown University, The University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, Marquette University and more. Valedictorian Jasmin Chavez attends Notre Dame University on a fullride scholarship.
In October, an EF-3 tornada leaves a 15- mile path of destruction across North Dallas. CRD students and families (many with landscaping and roofing resources) launch a clean-up effort to help families
clear brush and install tarps.
While the school immediately pivoted to asynchronous learning, the campus parking lot was transformed into a food pantry location in partnership with Catholic Charities Dallas and the North Texas Food Bank. Serving thousands of meals to members of the Southeast Dallas community, the pantry runs on alternating weeks and is staffed by CRD faculty, administration, students and families eager to serve.
Despite the difficulties brought on by the pandemic, CRD hosts a drive-through graduation on campus, where families turn out with posters, music and decorated cars celebrating the perseverance and commitment of the Class of 2020. CRD achieves its first Ivy League acceptance. Julian Cardoso attends Cornell University to study architecture.
In September, the Innovation Center opens with the Crystal Charity Ball Corporate Work Study offices, a multi-level student-centered dining hall, kitchen, art studios, music and drama rooms, worship center and competition gymnasium with locker rooms. The gymnasium also serves as a storm shelter for the school and surrounding community.
Providing a centralized remote workspace allows students to adjust to the needs of Job Partners who have pivoted to hybrid and remote work. CRD’s athletic program continues to grow and earn accolades. The men’s cross country team brings home the TAPPS 5A district championship. The school launches the annual CRD Art Showcase, an on-campus event featuring student presentations in theater, music, visual art, cheerleading and drill team.
The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction. CRD demonstrated strong performance
across all criteria, earning Platinum recognition, AP’s highest distinction. In addition, the school is recognized by the Cristo Rey Network for offering the highest number of Advanced Placement courses as well as the highest AP Test pass rate across the 40-member Network.
Thanks to growing participation in the school’s engineering program and a close connection
to both the American Society of Civil Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the school establishes its first Robotics Team and participates in the FIRST Tech Challenge, an international organization that hosts STEM and robotics competitions with almost 700,000 participants each year. In their first showing, the CRD Robotics Club secured the Judges Award for its presentation. The school’s FIRE cheer team wins first place in their category at the National Cheerleaders Association competition. Four years after leaving CRD, the school’s founding class crosses the stage at their respective colleges and universities, many becoming the first in their family to earn a college degree.
Every member of the Class of 2024 is accepted to a four-year college or university. For the first
time in the school’s history, three seniors are named QuestBridge Scholars, an award that comes with a full-ride scholarship to a top-tier university. In total, more than 600 students have graduated since the school launched in 2015.
