Join us at Woodburn Brewing in East Walnut Hills in Tuesday, November 19th for a beverage, socializing and a fun way to support CISE. Every pint sold will raise $1 for CISE. Whether you prefer beer, seltzer, or cider, each 16oz. drink purchase helps fund scholarships and programs for students. Plus, don’t miss your chance to enter a special raffle at the event. And it’s Taco Tuesday at Woodburn!
Location: Woodburn Brewing. 2800 Woodburn Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206
CISE’s primary focus over its 40-year history has been on sustaining Catholic grade schools in their neighborhoods. Vision 2021 & Beyond called on CISE to further expand the vital “bookends” to grade school: preschool and high school. Under the leadership of Phil McHugh, CISE onboarded Mari Thomas, Career Navigator and Workforce Intermediary and Mike Kennedy, Director of Strategic Initiatives and High School Scholarship Programs, to explore educational pathways to prepare CISE-supported schools for life after high school and build out the high school scholarship fund.
Since 2021, the number of eighth graders matriculating to Catholic high schools has increased, on average, by twenty new freshmen each academic year. As of fall 2024, 494 CISE-supported students attend a Catholic high school, with anticipated growth to more than 500 in 2025. As the enrollment in Catholic high schools increases, the need for additional scholarship funds increases, as well. With the addition of Mike to the CISE team, he has grown the high school scholarship funds and developed an accountability plan to regularly assess the usage, impact, and future needs.
Just as Mike has examined high school financial data, Mari Thomas has been exploring the educational landscape, specifically, the educational pathways and resources to ensure that CISE-supported graduates are life-ready. The Career and Technical Education, CTE, Feasibility study that commenced in the summer of 2023, has identified that the educational needs of CISE-supported scholars have changed, the educational options within most Catholic high schools have remained the same, and the opportunity for alternative educational resources and programming is essential. Given the changing student needs, and the available educational opportunities, Mari has fostered high school and post-secondary educational partnerships, developed relationships with business and industry partners, and secured state level policy champions to bring forward enhanced CTE “experienceships” that will expand the educational experience for CISE-supported scholars as they prepare for their post-graduation plans. Through this intentional and innovative educational reform, CISE will advance the commitment to strengthen the education continuum and help scholars secure a path to a job, successful career, life fulfillment, and, most importantly, a way out of poverty.
With Mari’s work to expand educational programming and Mike’s work to understand and build out the financial landscape, collectively they are planning to execute strategic initiatives that will ensure that the CISE-supported scholars not only get to Catholic high schools, but get through high school, prepared for their next chapter of life – college education, employment, or enlistment.
St. Lawrence | Seton class of 2018 | Mount St. Joseph Graduate
Brooke Rouse’s greatest achievement, the one she is most proud of so far in her life, is her graduation from Mt. St. Joseph University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies.
When Brooke reflects on her life thus far, she noted that her years of Catholic education taught her the value of learning and to always have hope, “I feel moved to share just how grateful I am for not only my selfless and dedicated teachers throughout my Catholic education, but also for CISE, who awarded me a scholarship to attend Seton High School. The generosity of so many equipped me with tools to work hard and paved the way for me to succeed.”
In college, Brook was offered her first internship at CISE. “I am so grateful they took a chance on a nervous college freshman and offered me a supportive environment that kickstarted me into the professional world. After college, I went all over the place – from D.C. to Orlando, but what pushed me through was the faith I learned from three Catholic schools on the West Side of Cincinnati (St. Lawrence, Seton, and MSJ) and brought me right back home. So many people believed in me,” Brooke noted.
Brooke is not only one of our proud alums but is also a new donor to the CISE-SGO. When asked why she donated, she said, “Each of us has the opportunity to rewrite futures. How cool is that?”
On September 25th, DePaul Cristo Rey High School recently welcomed forty guests to the quarterly Catholic Business Advisory Council (BAC). Dr. Mari K. Thomas gathered educational and community leaders for the first session of the Catholic BAC for the 2024-2025 school year.
Dennis Haft from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Office of Graduate Success, kicked off the meeting with an overview of Early College Credit and the integration of College and Career Pathways. Teresa Hernandez, from Sinclair College, shared insights on how Catholic schools can maximize College Credit Plus opportunities within their institutions.
Additionally, Angela Elsasser, from Great Oaks, Beth Merk from Mercy McAuley High School, and Dr. Sarah Delong from Butler Tech, presented information about specific Career and Technical programming that can be implemented in Catholic high schools today, as well as potential expansion programming for the future.
This Catholic BAC not only increased understanding but also sparked curiosity as attendees explored ways to enhance Career Readiness and Workforce Development programs and resources. The next Catholic BAC will take place on January 21, 2025, at Butler Tech, followed by a meeting on April 22, 2025, at the Center for Great Work Performance.
I am honored to serve as co-chair of the CISE 2024 Annual Campaign alongside CISE Board Chair David Williams. The mission of CISE to provide high-quality Catholic education to students in Cincinnati’s inner-city communities is something I am deeply passionate about. I am grateful for the opportunity to support this vital cause.
Our journey with Catholic education began when my wife, Paula, and I chose to send our two sons to St. Xavier High School, despite living in Wyoming, which offers an excellent public school system. This decision remains one of the best we’ve ever made as parents. Our younger son, a 2016 graduate, now thrives in the technology field with a master’s degree in business data analytics. Our older son, a 2014 graduate, completed medical school and is currently a dermatology resident at George Washington University.
Though we are not Catholic, we have come to fully appreciate the profound value of a Catholic values-based education. The principles instilled at St. Xavier played a pivotal role in shaping our sons into the responsible, accomplished, and compassionate men they are today.
When my friends Phil and Dave asked me to get involved with CISE, I was honored to join the effort. My visit to St. Francis Seraph School in Over-the-Rhine was an unforgettable experience that brought me back to my own childhood in Hamilton’s inner-city. The warmth, empathy, and unconditional support from the teachers reminded me of the central role that school and church played in my upbringing. The atmosphere at St. Francis Seraph was powerful and moving, reaffirming my belief in the transformative impact of values-based education.
CISE’s mission to provide high-quality Catholic education to students from inner-city communities is not just admirable—it is essential. The genuine support and positive environment I witnessed at St. Francis Seraph and other CISE schools give these students a real opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.
I am privileged to be part of this effort and deeply grateful to everyone supporting CISE. Your dedication makes an incredible difference in the lives of these students, and I encourage others to join in this important cause. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to empowering our students and strengthening our community.
Sincerely,
Nate Lampley, Jr.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Sip & Shop fundraiser at J.McLaughlin last week! It was a fantastic evening, and we’re thrilled to share that we raised over $3,000 to support CISE in providing a faith-based education for children in our urban communities. A special thank you to Louise Stakelin, Tricia Castellini, and the wonderful women from J.McLaughlin – Julie, Mary Ann, and Pam – for making the event such a success!
On August 21st, Hyde Park Country Club hosted the kick-off party for the CISE 2024 Annual Campaign, themed “Innovation & Impact.” The event brought together board members, staff, supporters, school principals, advocates, and the newly appointed Archdiocese of Cincinnati Superintendent of Catholic School, Matthew Daniels.
CISE President & Executive Director Phil McHugh led the event, emphasizing the importance of community collaboration and the significance of reaching the campaign’s $4.4 million fundraising goal, which will enable nearly 3,000 inner-city children to receive a Catholic values-based education.
Campaign co-chairs Nathaniel (Nate) Lampley Jr. and David J. Williams delivered powerful speeches. Nate discussed how touring a CISE-supported school impacted him deeply and reminded him of his own childhood. He also shared that his sons benefited from a Catholic education at St. Xavier High School. David, chair of the CISE Board of Trustees, reflected on his personal experiences visiting CISE-supported schools, highlighting the meaningful impact the organization has had on the community. A particularly memorable moment came when Sr. Janet Linz from Purcell Marian talked about her experiences supporting high school students and what CISE has meant to her and her students over the years. Sr. Janet’s words captured the essence of CISE’s impact.
The evening marked the beginning of an important fundraising effort and reinforced the strong sense of community within CISE.
Learn more about CISE (Catholic Inner-city Schools Education) at CISEKids.org.
The 2nd annual J.McLaughlin Sip & Shop fundraiser will be held on Thursday, September 12th from 4pm-7pm.
On July 30th, Dr. Mari Thomas, CISE CTE Consultant, gathered thirty educational and community leaders at Mercy McAuley High School for the third Catholic Business Advisory Council (BAC) session.
The group of educators and industry leaders explored two new CISE K-12 career resources and the web-based portal, LinkedUp Connect, which helps students and teachers find work-based learning opportunities aligned with curriculum and interests.
In addition, a panel of Catholic school alumni and students shared testimonials about the power of workforce readiness, early college learning experiences, and work-based experienceships. Panelist Iran Ferra-Clemente noted that sharing his story and networking with leaders was the highlight of his year.
The next Catholic BAC will take place on September 25, at DePaul Cristo Rey.
You have may have heard that Corryville Catholic Principal, Lauren Clements, accepted the position of Principal at Mercy McAuley High School. While we are sad to see her go, we are very happy for Mrs. Clements and thrilled for the students and staff of Mercy McAuley. We look forward to seeing the great work she will do at Mercy McAuley High School.
We are please to welcome Jessie Back as Principal at Corryville Catholic. With a wealth of experience and dedication to education, Mr. Back will provide strong leadership and foster a culture of academic excellence. We extend our warmest congratulations to Mr. Back on his new role and look forward to the positive impact he will undoubtedly make at Corryville Catholic.
A Message from Mr. Back
With a steadfast commitment to fostering academic excellence and nurturing the spiritual growth of students, I am honored to introduce myself as the next Principal of Corryville Catholic. As a servant leader guided by Catholic principles, I have dedicated my career to shaping young minds and fostering a culture of compassion, respect, and academic achievement. I have had the privilege of serving in various leadership roles, where I’ve implemented innovative strategies to enhance teaching practices, cultivate a positive school culture, and ensure the holistic development of every student. Through collaboration with teachers, staff, and families, I am deeply committed to upholding the rich traditions of our Catholic faith while embracing new opportunities for growth and excellence. I am a proud graduate of LaSalle High School and have learned first hand just how impactful a Catholic education is. I look forward to continuing the tremendous work and traditions of Corryville Catholic School.
