{"id":20400,"date":"2025-06-18T14:04:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T19:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carmelites.net\/?p=20400"},"modified":"2025-06-18T14:08:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T19:08:12","slug":"kay-sullivan-a-legacy-of-empathy-and-community-at-salpointe-catholic-high-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carmelites.net\/es\/carmelite-review\/kay-sullivan-a-legacy-of-empathy-and-community-at-salpointe-catholic-high-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Kay Sullivan: Un legado de empat\u00eda y comunidad en Salpointe Catholic High School"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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by Fr. Gregory Houck, O.Carm.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kay Sullivan: A Legacy of Empathy and Community at Salpointe Catholic High School<\/strong><\/p>

After a 24-year tenure at Salpointe Catholic High School, Kay Sullivan is retiring from her role as President of the school. Her official retirement date: July 1st, 2025.<\/p>

Path to Leadership at Salpointe<\/strong><\/p>

Kay Sullivan began her journey to Salpointe Catholic High School through her husband, a physician, who inspired her to work in development for the Ari Parseghian Foundation, an organization dedicated to curing a disease that affected three of the Parseghian grandchildren. From there she began her association with Salpointe Catholic High School as a volunteer in 2001 in the school\u2019s Development Office.\u00a0 Fr Fred Tillotson, O.Carm., soon invited Kay to head that office.\u00a0 She found herself stepping more and more into the role of President after noticing there was no search for a permanent replacement for the president.\u00a0 Soon after, the Board asked her to become the president.<\/p>

Revitalizing the School<\/strong><\/p>

Upon taking leadership, Kay observed that the school had grown stagnant, with declining student numbers and a lack of new initiatives.\u00a0She spearheaded plans for a new student center and oversaw the development of a STEM Center, which brought significant citywide attention to Salpointe.\u00a0Today, the school boasts an enrollment of 1,300 students, reaching its maximum capacity along with a waiting list.<\/p>

Embracing Carmelite Values<\/strong><\/p>

Kay\u2019s personal mission at Salpointe was rooted in the Carmelite charism, particularly the promotion of each person\u2019s inherent dignity<\/u>.\u00a0She believes that when the dignity of every individual is prioritized, all other aspects of school life fall into place.\u00a0The word community<\/u> also is a recurring theme throughout the school\u2019s halls and patios, reflecting the culture she has fostered, with a sense of hospitality into that community.<\/p>

Lasting Legacy<\/strong><\/p>

During Kay\u2019s leadership, Salpointe has grown a lot, with new programs, new buildings, and a modern infrastructure; yet, upon reflection, Kay says that her most important legacy is her emphasis on empathy<\/u>.\u00a0She has cultivated developing a faculty and staff adept at understanding and supporting one another and understanding and supporting the students, creating a humane and welcoming atmosphere for all.\u00a0<\/p>

What\u2019s Next?<\/strong><\/p>

Looking ahead, Kay has been invited to contribute her talents to the Carmelite NGO, continuing her commitment to service and community. She also looks forward to more time to spend with family, especially her two grandchildren.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Salpointe Catholic President Kay Sullivan\u2019s Farewell Message<\/strong><\/p>

May 28, 2025<\/p>

Dear Friends,<\/p>

Today is another great day to be a Salpointe Lancer! One of the greatest gifts and honors of my life has been to serve this sacred community for the past 24 years. I have loved every single day and every single Lancer \u2026 and I am exceedingly proud of our transformational accomplishments.\u00a0<\/p>

Salpointe Catholic is a very special place, a source of strength, inspiration and innovation that keeps on giving, generation after generation. For you who have been touched by Salpointe, as a Lancer student, parent, grandparent or friend, the school\u2019s commitment to embrace the Carmelite spirit of prayer, service and community and to honor the dignity of every person has become part of the fabric of your life\u2026forever.\u00a0<\/p>

My tenure has been a journey of love, joy and gratitude and I thank the Carmelites, and especially Fr. Carl Markelz, O.Carm., and Fr. William J. Harry, O.Carm., who served as Prior Provincials during my tenure. I am particularly touched by the honor that Fr. Carl bestowed on me at the Baccalaureate Mass, welcoming me with \u201cspiritual affiliation\u201d as an honorary member of the worldwide Order of the Carmelites, signed by the Prior General Fr. Miceal O\u2019Neill, O.Carm., at the Curia in Rome.<\/p>

I thank the members of the Board of Directors. I always say that any nonprofit in Tucson would be honored to have the caliber and loyalty of Salpointe\u2019s professional, qualified and personally committed Board members. You embrace the charism of this holy place and ensure that the mission guides our every decision. I specifically want to thank the three board chairs with whom I had the pleasure of working over the past 14 years: Phil Lacovara, Mike Slania and Pat Lopez. I also thank the members of our seven board- level committees, and the Boards of Directors of the Salpointe Catholic Education Foundation, Salpointe Parent Association and Salpointe Alumni Council for your generous support and welcoming hospitality. You keep us on the cutting edge of excellence by raising funds and providing fun opportunities to build a community of believers.<\/p>

Thank you, administration, faculty and staff, current and past! Many people make Salpointe successful. Everyone matters: our custodians, security attendants, chef, maintenance staff, coaches, admin assistants, managers, teachers, directors and principal. You have enabled Salpointe to seek excellence in every capacity; you give your hearts and souls for the benefit of our Lancer students, truly dedicating your lives to their success. The school is blessed to have your mentorship in the classrooms, courts, fields, stage and offices!<\/p>

Thank you, donors! Your investment in our students is the best investment you could ever make: you are changing lives in transformative ways that last a lifetime. Your gift matters here! On a personal note, thank you for your trust in me when I asked you for tens or hundreds or thousands or millions of dollars. You humble me with your generosity and your love. You have helped Salpointe embrace its mission to provide a Catholic, college prep education to thousands of students regardless of financial status. You have constructed a campus that rivals the facilities of some colleges with spaces that welcome Lancers and support academic success. Click here to see a list of generous donors who gave over $50,000 to Salpointe during my tenure as president.<\/a> My gratitude is forever!<\/p>

School leadership and the Board of Directors have determined that increasing the $5M financial aid endowment must be our next fundraising priority. Several hundred Salpointe families live at or below the federal poverty level and even with state tax credits and ESA, these 300+ families need additional assistance. Salpointe wants to partner with qualified families by providing help through the financial aid endowment. In celebration of the school\u2019s 75th anniversary this year, Salpointe has a goal of raising an additional $7.5M.\u00a0<\/p>

To help reach this goal, Salpointe recently established the Kay Sullivan Financial Aid Endowment Fund. I am humbled and honored \u2026 and, of course, I am grateful for any gift you may wish to offer! Click here to make a donation.<\/a><\/p>

Salpointe\u2019s future is bright! I have every confidence and trust in our next president, Jennifer Harris. She is a highly intelligent, visionary leader who is fully committed to Salpointe\u2019s mission and to the success of each and every Lancer.I have no doubt that Salpointe will continue to soar under her energetic and vision-driven leadership. Please welcome and continue to support Jen and our exceptional principal Ardemis Martin as you have supported me!<\/p>

As Ecclesiastes notes, \u201cTo everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.\u201d My time is now and I am retiring to start the next chapter of my life. I hope to become an insatiable traveler and, much more importantly, a doting grandmother to our two precious grandbabies! As I take this next step, I will take you with me, cherishing the times and the memories we have made together. I feel certain that our paths will cross again.<\/p>

Sending love, joy and gratitude,<\/p>

Kay<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Carmelites of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, in allegiance to Jesus Christ, live in a prophetic and contemplative stance of prayer, common life, and service.\u00a0 Inspired by Elijah and Mary and informed by the Carmelite Rule, we give witness to an eight-hundred-year-old tradition of spiritual transformation in the United States, Canada, Peru, Mexico, and El Salvador, and Honduras.<\/strong><\/p>

Please consider supporting their mission
https:\/\/carmelitemedia.tiny.us\/supportpcm<\/a>
to make a financial donation.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>Ant<\/span><\/span>Previous<\/span>Farewell Mass at Saint Agnes, Phoenix<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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