Building a School Where Every Child Can Succeed

Building a School Where Every Child Can Succeed

I’ve been at St. Marcus, for more than two decades, and if you had told me when I first arrived what this place would become, I’m not sure I would have believed you.

The year before I arrived at St. Marcus, the school had about 95 students and was operating out of a building that dated back to the 1800s. Today, we serve more than 1,400 scholars across three campuses, ten blocks apart, on the northside of Milwaukee, and we’re still growing.

That growth didn’t happen by accident. It came from a very clear belief: that every child can succeed, and that we have a responsibility to build a school that makes that possible.

Why This Work Matters

I didn’t originally set out to spend my life in education. What drew me in was something deeper.

Early in my career, I worked with families through Habitat for Humanity in Chicago. These were hardworking, motivated families doing everything they could to build a better life, but their kids weren’t getting the education they deserved. That disconnect stuck with me, because ultimately, it didn’t make sense.

The more I looked into it, the more I realized how broken urban education systems could be. That realization led me into teaching, and eventually to St. Marcus, where I could combine my faith with a mission to serve kids in a meaningful way.

At St. Marcus, that focus is simple: we do whatever it takes to serve children and their families. And we take that seriously.

From Waiting Lists to Expansion

One of the clearest signs we were doing something right was the demand.

At one point, we had hundreds of children on a waiting list. I would get phone calls from parents, sometimes in tears, asking if there was any way we could find a spot for their child.

That’s when expansion stops being a strategic decision and becomes a moral one.

You realize quickly that if you have the ability to serve more kids, you have to do it.

But expansion at that scale is complex. It’s not just about putting up a building. It’s about funding, planning, logistics, and making sure you don’t lose sight of your goal along the way. That’s where the right partner matters.

More Than a Construction Partner

When we first connected with Catalyst Construction, what stood out immediately was alignment.

They weren’t just interested in the project; they were invested in what we were trying to accomplish. There was a shared understanding that this wasn’t just a building. It was an opportunity to impact lives.

That showed up in very practical ways.

Catalyst helped us think beyond construction. They introduced ideas like New Market Tax Credits and connected us with partners who could guide us through that process.

For a school like ours, that kind of early, strategic involvement is critical. It’s often the difference between a project moving forward or stalling out entirely. And it’s the kind of partnership that extends beyond the jobsite, through ongoing support of our mission, including their involvement and sponsorship of events like our annual gala.

Throughout the process, they have acted like a true partner, problem-solving alongside us, not just executing a scope.

What Partnership Really Looks Like

Every construction project has challenges, and ours were no different. But what matters is how your partner responds.

I remember during our most recent, third campus construction project, we had a major rainstorm before part of the building was fully sealed. Water was coming into the structure. We made a call early that morning, and within no time, the Catalyst team was on-site, working through solutions with us.

That level of responsiveness matters, and so does flexibility. We had scholars learning in the building while construction was happening. There were moments where we needed work to pause for testing, or quiet learning, and they made it happen, no questions asked.

It was never adversarial. It was always collaborative. And over time, that builds trust.

The Impact on Our Scholars

Today, when I watch hundreds of kids walk into our buildings each morning, I’m reminded why all of this matters.

Because the reality is, for many of those scholars, the alternative options are not good. And that’s not an exaggeration.

What we’ve built, together with partners like Catalyst, gives families a real choice. It gives kids a place where they can thrive. And it proves something important: it doesn’t have to be this way. Schools like St. Marcus show that better outcomes are possible.

Why the Right Partner Changes Everything

Over the past 15+ years, Catalyst has been a central partner in multiple projects that now serve more than 1,400 scholars. That kind of long-term relationship doesn’t happen unless there’s real alignment and trust.

If I were giving advice to another school or organization considering a project like this, it would be simple: Find a partner who shares your vision.

Do your due diligence, talk to multiple firms, but pay attention to who is actually trying to understand what you’re building and why.

Because when things get complicated, and they will, that alignment is what carries you through.

Looking Ahead

At St. Marcus, we are definitely not done expanding our mission or our facilities.

There’s always more work to do, more children and families to serve, more space to build, more opportunities to create. And like everything we’ve done so far, it will take the right partners to make it happen.

At the end of the day, none of this is about buildings, it’s about the kids.

If you keep that at the center and surround yourself with people who believe the same thing, like Catalyst, you can build something that truly lasts.

Support the Mission

The work at St. Marcus Lutheran School continues because of a strong community of partners who believe in what’s possible for every child. Catalyst Construction is one of those partners, supporting the school not only through projects, but their ongoing investment in initiatives like our annual gala.

Join us at the St. Marcus 2026 Gala: Saturday, November 14

Be part of the momentum, support the mission and help us continue building a future where every child can succeed. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.stmarcusgala.com.