Strong Minds Loving Hearts

By the time her daughter, Hayah, was in fourth grade, Monique Coates was seeking change. At a local charter school, Hayah had done well; her grades were fantastic — predictably fantastic. That apparent lack of challenge coupled with the general environment spurred Monique and Hayah to make a move: starting in fifth grade, Hayah would attend St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in West Philadelphia.At St. Rose of Lima, Hayah blossomed. Challenged by her teachers, she discovered and developed a dedicated work ethic, made strong friendships, immersed herself in school activities and even picked up the violin after a false start with the cello. Today, Hayah is an eighth grader looking towards a future she and her mother couldn't have imagined four years ago: A four-year Howley Scholarship to Merion Mercy Academy, one of the top private all-girls high schools in the region. Candidly, Howley Scholarships are a big deal. They're awarded to students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement and have the potential to be a leader at their chosen high school. Tune into this intimate conversation between mother and daughter as they talk about Hayah's transition to St. Rose of Lima, why a Muslim family would choose a Catholic school, how game-changing a Howley Scholarship is, and much, much more.

Christine and Rick Conti love their students. Christine loves them as kindergarteners. Rick loves them as fourth graders. But that love doesn’t stop when their students move on to first grade or fifth grade or even when they're in high school or college. As both Christine and Rick like to say…“You’re always going to be one of my kids.” That passion for teaching, mentoring and guiding young people in and beyond the classroom radiates throughout the halls of St. Martin of Tours. It has for years. Christine's actually an authority on that matter: she graduated from St. Martin of Tours and did her student teaching here. Rick can attest too, too, having attended St. Donato’s, now St. Frances of Cabrini.And did we mention they’re married?!?!The Conti’s embody everything a parent could want for their child’s education and they are the true essence of the types of teachers you’ll find throughout the entire Independence Mission Schools network. Now if they could only agree on what to have for dinner tonight… 

"That one decision changed the trajectory of my life and my sister's life. My mom and dad weren't rich. But this investment changed generations of our families lives."That's how media personality and business strategist, Quincy Harris, thinks back on his experience at The DePaul School. Family. Connection. Community. Expectations. Achievement. Safety. Confidence. All of those attributes — and countless others — were formed here.And the man who played an integral role in forming them in Quincy? He's still at it.For over 45 years, Mr. Leonard has been a rock at The DePaul School. He's taught hundreds (likely thousands) of students who have gone on to achieve incredible things. He's challenged them. He's guided them. He's shaped not just their minds, but their character. Tune in as Quincy and Mr. Leonard catch up, share stories and dig into just how life-changing an IMS education can be.

Graduates from our 14 schools go on to attend some of the Philadelphia area's top archdiocesan, independent, magnet and charter high schools — often on merit based scholarships. One of the high schools where we've developed a strong pipeline? Philadelphia's Cristo Rey, where IMS students accounted for 24% of 2025's incoming ninth grade class — a data point that delights director of admissions and family engagement, Evelin Roman. Key to this high school achievement is our network-wide High School Readiness Program that starts prepping and working with students and their families as early as fifth grade. Each of our 14 schools has a high school readiness coordinator on staff. At St. Veronica, that's Carmen Irizarry. In this episode of Strong Minds Loving Hearts, Evelin and Carmen dig into the transition from elementary school to high school and how IMS is preparing its students and positioning them for success.

When Mary Holmes brought her daughter, Queenie, to St. Malachy Catholic School for her first day of kindergarten nearly 20 years ago, she stayed -- the whole day. That day turned into years of volunteering at the school which turned into countless full-time jobs -- from assistant to the principal to her current role as a 4th grade teacher -- all while earning his master's degree at Lincoln University. Today, the family legacy at Malachy continues. Queenie, currently at LaSalle University studying criminal justice, has her daughter enrolled in Pre-K. In this episode of Strong Minds Loving Hearts, St. Malachy principal, Betsy Rafferty, chats with Mary, Queenie and a few other "guests" who were up past their bedtime and couldn't resist playing with the mics. :) Together they recall heartwarming memories and dig deep into what makes this place so magical. So grab a box of tissues and get ready for all the feels.

Today, Spencer is thriving at Malvern Prep, taking on honors classes, joining new clubs, and growing as both a student and a young man. How he got there had a lot to do with where he came from: St. Rose of Lima Catholic School. At St. Rose, Spencer discovered his love for music, theater, and learning — and built the confidence that helped him take this next big step.In this episode of Strong Minds Loving Hearts, St. Rose Principal, Charles Arroyave, sits down with his former student for wide-ranging conversation that spans inspirational teachers (shout out to Mr. Jones!), fond memories, formative moments and how Spencer, taking on Sebastian in St. Rose's rendition of The Little Mermaid, kept his cool when the mics went out.

Today, Nate Brookins teaches fifth grade at The DePaul Catholic School. Before that, he coached basketball at DePaul — all while sending his kids to the school. And even before that, Nate was a student at DePaul. In this episode of Strong Minds Loving Hearts, Nate talks with DePaul Principal Colleen McKenzie about what's so magnetic about this place. Together, they reflect on traditions like the Turkey Bowl, the long-lasting influence of teachers like Mr. Leonard, and why Nate chose DePaul for his own children.This from-the-heart conversation reveals the power of a Catholic school education, the bonds that last through decades, and how teachers and leaders at DePaul continue to shape not only academic success but also strong character and lifelong confidence.

In this episode of Strong Minds Loving Hearts, Principal Nick Huck sits down with St. Helena-Incarnation Catholic School alumnus, Jason Jiang, to reflect on his journey from the classrooms of St. Helena to LaSalle College High School and now to Yale University on a full QuestBridge scholarship.Jason shares how the supportive teachers and close-knit community at St. Helena-Incarnation shaped his confidence, curiosity, and commitment to growth. He talks about navigating high school, discovering passions like debate and music, and taking on the challenge of completing his college applications as a first-generation student.Alongside Principal Huck, Jason reflects on the importance of community, resilience, and saying “yes” to opportunities—offering advice for current students who are preparing for their next steps.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:Jason’s path from St. Helena-Incarnation to LaSalle and YaleHow St. Helena-Incarnation prepared him academically and personallyThe role of supportive teachers and community in his successBehind-the-scenes of earning the QuestBridge scholarshipAdvice for current and future St. Helena-Incarnation students