This month, Cristo Rey Jesuit is proud to feature Margie Miller in the Faculty Spotlight. This is Ms. Miller’s first year teaching English at Cristo Rey Jesuit, having joined us from St. Peter Claver Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Omaha, Nebraska.
Ms. Miller has a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Arts in Education from Stanford University where she graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
Why did you decide to move to Houston to work for Cristo Rey Jesuit?
I knew I wanted to continue working at a Cristo Rey school if possible. During my interview and visit to the school, I had the opportunity to meet a great group of students, and I was impressed by the collegiality of the staff as well as the general school environment. Although it was difficult to move so far away from my family, I knew Cristo Rey Jesuit would be a great place to work.
What lessons and experiences have you been able to bring to Cristo Rey Jesuit from St. Peter Claver Cristo Rey Catholic High School?
It was inspiring to attend the first graduation at St. Peter Claver Cristo Rey and realize how far the students had come and how much they had accomplished. Many students who had never considered college to be a real option were preparing to head off to college with a new sense of confidence and impressive resumes. It is exciting to see the students at Cristo Rey Jesuit on this same path. New schools face so many challenges because everything is a “first,” so it is helpful to have experienced some of these things before.
What makes you a proponent of the Cristo Rey model?
I like that the Cristo Rey network has such a student-centered mission and aims to provide students with a well-rounded experience through its academic, faith, work-study and service components. Through the work-study program, students are able to see where their education might take them in the future, and the business partners have the unique opportunity to mentor students and help them access the education needed to achieve their goals.
What are the challenges of teaching at a Cristo Rey model school?
It can be a challenge to navigate a schedule where students work one day a week. Teachers have to be very flexible and organized. Also, at times the college prep focus can be daunting. Even when planning for ninth-grade courses, we have to think about where students need to be in four short years and make sure we are giving them the right skills and tools to get there.
What is it about teaching English that excites you?
I love reading, writing and talking about books, and I get to do that every day with my students. No matter who you are or where you are from, you can pick up a book and encounter an experience or world completely different from your own. In addition, it’s empowering for students to find their own voices through speaking and writing, and I feel lucky to be a part of that.
What has been your favorite Cristo Rey Jesuit memory?
One of my favorite moments was the start of the summer training for new students. It was fun to see students walk in for the first time as Cristo Rey Jesuit students. Everyone was so positive and professional, and it was exciting to be a part of the Cristo Rey Jesuit community.
What was the last good book that you read?
I really enjoyed The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse. In the book, the writer draws from his own experiences growing up in Echo Park, Los Angeles. He creates a series of unique characters whose separate stories are woven together to form a really interesting narrative about what it means to be part of a community.
Check out this video of Ms. Miller’s Sophomore English class engaging in Socratic dialogue.
