As part of its continuing efforts to establish a Cristo Rey Network® high school in the Triangle area, the organization recently named Dr. Michael J. Fedewa, Founding President, Cristo Rey RTP.
Dr. Fedewa is long-time champion for Catholic education in North Carolina, having served as Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Raleigh for more than 25 years. He will transition to his new role with Cristo Rey in February.
“The successful establishment of a Cristo Rey High School within the Diocese of Raleigh has been a goal of Bishop Zarama’s since he arrived in 2017,” said Fedewa. “As I’ve become more familiar with the mission of the school and the impact it has on young people, I have become passionate about personally helping make this a reality.”
Cristo Rey is a national network of Catholic, college-preparatory, high schools that exclusively serve low income students. The schools provide a unique four-year, integrated corporate work-study experience. The Triangle-area school will be locally owned and operated as part of the Cristo Rey Network® of more than 30 schools across the country. The organization is targeting fall of 2021 to open a school in the Triangle region with an incoming 9th grade class of 100 students.
Over the past year, community volunteers have been hard at work surveying community leaders, potential students and their parents; exploring potential school sites; working with local companies to arrange for student jobs and talking with religious orders to endorse the school in conjunction with the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh.
“Pope Francis has said that, ‘An education in the fullness of humanity should be the defining feature of Catholic Schools,’” said Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama. “Mike will still be working to fulfill that mission and will leave the diocese knowing that our Schools Office and professional Catholic educators are well-equipped for continued success.”
About The Cristo Rey Network®
The Cristo Rey Network® is the only network of high schools in the country that integrate four years of rigorous college preparatory academics with four years of professional work experience through the Corporate Work Study Program. Composed of 37 Catholic, college- and career-preparatory schools that today serve 12,200 students across 24 states with 18,000 graduates, the Cristo Rey Network delivers a powerful and innovative approach to inner-city education that equips students from families of limited economic means with the knowledge, character, and skills to transform their lives. While Cristo Rey® schools are locally owned and operated, the Cristo Rey Network national office protects the integrity of the movement and advances school excellence and innovation.
For more information, visit http://www.cristoreyrtp.org.