"I thought I would be attending just another conference; I was really joining a movement."

For six years, the Latino Enrollment Institute (LEI) has helped Catholic schools nationwide attract and better serve Latino families. Through the program’s history, the vast majority of these schools have been at the elementary level, but in recent years, we have seen an uptick in demand from Catholic high schools. This has been a welcome sight as we know that the great work being done by our elementary schools cannot stop at eighth grade.

While high schools undoubtedly face a different reality than most Catholic grade schools do when it comes to day-to-day operations, recruitment activities, and advancement practices, much of what the LEI offers is universally applicable. At the same time, we sought to address some of the unique needs that Catholic high schools have, and we began by placing the high school principals in a small cohort together. This cohort of school leaders has been working with an LEI Coach and high school principal throughout the year to help institute changes to spur enrollment growth and better serve the Latino families in their communities.

Today, we highlight one of those schools who has shown remarkable growth in just a short time – Bishop Machebeuf High School in Denver, Colorado. The principal, Deacon Marc Nestorick, and his staff have worked hard to implement LEI strategies and reach out to the Latino community both inside their school and in the wider community.

After attending the LEI last summer, Bishop Machebeuf High School increased Latino enrollment from 86 to 128 students, nearly a 50-percent increase in just a few short months. Following is a reflection from Deacon Marc about his experience in the LEI and how it has helped shape much of what Bishop Machebeuf does today.

I am a veteran principal of more than twenty years. I have prided myself on having worked within multicultural environments throughout most of my career, yet I was humbled in a positive way when I attended the Latino Enrollment Institute last summer. I have often said, the most dangerous words a teacher can hear from a principal are, “I went to a conference.” Because often times that means change. This was certainly the case with the LEI. I learned more strategies and practical information than I had at so many other conferences, which opened my mind, my heart, and empowered me to take the steps necessary to open our doors more fully to serving our Latino population. While I thought I would be attending just another conference, I was really joining a movement.

Throughout my career, I have worked in strong Latino communities. Every community had its own unique character. I had learned about the practices and traditions of various Latino communities, but never fully understood the depth and background behind the practices. I didn’t understand the “why.” That was until I attended the LEI. The institute went beyond telling us about different traditions to help us understand the richness of different traditions.

When I left the summer LEI program, I wanted others to understand and appreciate the gifts of the cultures represented in the Latino community. That is when I decided to have a Latino Culture Day for our faculty and staff at Bishop Machebeuf High School. I was sitting in the airport emailing people to begin planning for the day. What a day it ended up being! Our faculty and staff, along with teachers from a local elementary school, learned about how much of the Latino culture is intertwined with the Catholic faith. Our parents made an incredible lunch for all the participants, and our Bishop spoke to everyone on the Catholic view of immigration. We ended the day with a student panel sharing their joys and hardships as a Latino student. The LEI not only opened my heart to the richness of the culture, but also impacted my faculty and staff.

I not only left the LEI with great plans for an in-service day, but also ways to develop a school culture that was more welcoming to Latinos. I must admit, I left with an extensive action plan and everything was going to be accomplished by the first day of school! While I didn’t accomplish everything, I did make some significant changes that started opening the doors of our school to the Latino population. One of the biggest changes we made is that we now have two people in the front office who speak Spanish. I cannot believe how often they are engaging parents and the community using their Spanish. It is beautiful. At the same time, I am saddened to know that we missed so many opportunities during the previous years because we didn’t have Spanish-speaking personnel in the main office. We have a lot of work to do still, but it is inspiring to think of the ways, both large and small, that our school has evolved since attending the LEI.

All the work we have done would not have been possible without the amazing support and professionalism of the LEI team. You often go to a conference, you leave with good ideas, and then there is no follow-up. The ideas are lost. This is NOT the case with LEI. They match you up with a coach. They provide a winter “booster shot” conference for the principals. They provide you with the resources to continue the journey throughout the year. Even when things got crazy, I was able to stay the course. I know we will again have an increase in our Latino enrollment this year. What it will be, we will soon find out. Whatever the gain, though, our community, our school, and I am forever changed by the Latino Enrollment Institute.

If you’re interested in learning how your Catholic school can recruit and better serve Latino children and families, click here to find out more about the Latino Enrollment Institute.