On this episode of Take Back Our Schools, Andrew and Beth speak with educator Tony Ortiz about his school, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, which has an innovative work study program which allows low income students in Chicago to get a high quality college preparatory education by working one day per week. Tony discusses the origins of the program, how it has developed and changed over the years and how it inspired a national network of work study schools. Tony talks about the impressive graduation rates of Cristo Rey and the benefits to both students and employers of the work study model.

Photo courtesy of Tony Ortiz

Tony Ortiz is the first lay President of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School which was founded in 1996 and pioneered the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) model for inner city education that has since inspired a national network of 38 schools serving traditionally under resourced communities across the country. Tony joined Cristo Rey in 2000, first as the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and then as Associate Principal, before becoming President in June 2012. Tony is a graduate of Leadership Greater Chicago, serves on the Membership Committee for the Economic Club of Chicago, and sits on several boards including the Archdiocese of Chicago School Board, Dominican University, Loyola University Health System, Chicago Jesuit Academy, and The Resurrection Project and previously served as a young alum Trustee for the University of Notre Dame.

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