One of the central tenets of Jesuit education and philosophy is
cura personalis—care for the whole person. At Saint Ignatius,
cura personalis permeates every aspect of the student experience.
Over the past few years, Saint Ignatius has broadened the scope of services it offers to students with specialized learning needs. According to Emily Samek, Assistant Principal for Student Support Services, “Our programming has evolved over the past seven years. The way it looked when I started is very different from how it looks now. I am proud of our program.” She is grateful for the support from Principal Dr. Anthony Fior ’02, President and Chief Mission Officer Fr. Raymond P. Guiao S.J. ’82, and former Principal Dan Bradesca ’88 for enhancing our Student Service initiatives. “Expanding our services for students is part of our ongoing commitment to be a more inclusive and welcoming community,” adds Dr. Fior.
The 2024 - 2025 school year is the first that the school has had a full-time therapist on staff. Ms. Carolyn Szweda is a licensed social worker and sees students during the school day to provide therapeutic services. This year also marks the first time the school has been a Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Provider (JPSN). The administration recognized this as an opportunity to provide additional support for students and their families. The JPSN offers scholarships to students who have an Individual Education Program (IEP) from their home district. Samek says the school was already meeting all the requirements to be a JPSN provider to support some eligible students. However, this designation allows families to access additional funds from the State of Ohio, enabling even better support for students.
Samek stresses that the school did not modify its curriculum to become a JPSN provider. “We still have the same expectations for all of the students that we have had since the beginning. Our admission standards have not changed,” says Samek.
The
Robert M. Walton ’41 Center for Learning at Saint Ignatius supports students on JPSN scholarships, those with accommodations (a 504 plan), or those students who simply need extra support. A 504 plan is a document designed to provide accommodations for students with disabilities, ensuring they can learn effectively in a general classroom setting.
The Walton Center has a team in place, ready to support our Wildcats based on their needs. Intervention Specialists Kevin Mackey and Kristin Miller, both certified Special Education teachers, support the students on their caseload, and those in the classes they co-teach. In addition to working with students on JPSN scholarships or accommodation plans, they also work with those who don’t have a diagnosed learning disability, but who have been identified as needing a support period with the Walton Center staff. Students who need academic support periods have that time built into their schedules.
Cat Geletka "Coach G" is an Academic Coach on the Walton Center staff. Her focus is on students who have some academic struggles, including ADHD and executive function. As a part-time clinical counselor outside of school, she has strong skills that lend themselves to supporting students who may need a little extra support after being out for an extended period. Coach G also works with teachers in developing strategies to support those students who may need extra help in the classroom.
School Psychologist and Special Education Coordinator Bethany Baker rounds out the Walton Center team. Baker has played a major role in helping the school to manage being a JPSN provider. Part of her role involves serving as a liaison between the different school districts and the students with IEPs. Samek adds that the addition of Baker has allowed Walton Center staff to spend more time working with students.
Samek believes that Saint Ignatius becoming a JPSN school demonstrates the leadership's commitment to supporting boys who are neurodivergent and those with learning disabilities. Neurodivergent learners are those that learn, think, and behave differently from what is considered typical. “We want our community to know that they are welcome and that we have the support in place if they need it,” Samek says emphatically.
The school’s administration actively supports students who need extra assistance before starting their freshman year with the Summer Bridge Program. According to Samek, each admission cycle reveals students who possess the potential to thrive at Saint Ignatius but require additional academic and transitional support. These students are designated as
Romero Scholars. Along with JPSN scholarship recipients, they are required to attend the Bridge Program, which takes place on campus. The program helps students acclimate to the school environment, understand class structure, and develop essential executive function skills in math and reading. Ultimately, the program equips these boys for the rigorous academic challenges they will face at Saint Ignatius.
Freshman Seminar is another way that cura personalis is integrated into the student experience. Managed by the School Counseling department, the seminar gives students tools for stress management, time management, studying, being involved on campus, healthy relationships, and more. With the School Counseling staff running this program, counselors have a chance to get to know the students well.
Saint Ignatius’ commitment to cura personalis is reflected in the school’s proactive approach to supporting all students including those with unique learning needs and mental health concerns. Through initiatives like the Walton Center, the Summer Bridge Program, and the Freshman Seminar, Saint Ignatius provides a foundation that helps students thrive.
This story was originally published in the Winter issue of the Saint Ignatius magazine; to read the full issue click
here.