SMC Alumni Give Back at De La Salle Academy
At De La Salle Academy, a tuition-free Lasallian Catholic middle school in the San Miguel model, a group of Gael alumni have taken to heart the Lasallian ethos “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.”
Founded in 2014 by the late real estate developer and philanthropist Ken Hoffman ’45, in partnership with the Christian Brothers, De La Salle Academy (DLSA) provides a transformative, accessible Catholic educational experience for promising boys from under-resourced families.
“In a typical middle school, after eighth-grade graduation, you wish them well, and you hope to hear about their successes when they’re in high school and beyond,” says Chris Giangregorio ’01, DSLA’s Principal and CEO. But the San Miguel model is unique. Students and families are a part of the school community for years, long after they’ve graduated.
Lasallian values like these first attracted Giangregorio to Saint Mary’s over twenty years ago. The son of two classroom teachers, he always knew he would study education. At Saint Mary’s, he saw an opportunity for an authentic liberal arts experience, diving deep into multiple subjects while also serving others.
Giangregorio majored in Liberal & Civic Studies at Saint Mary’s and served in two different schools through the Lasallian Volunteer program after graduation. In 2008, he returned to SMC to complete his teaching credential and again in 2012 for his Administrative Credential. Giangregorio came to work at DLSA in 2017.
“I really enjoy being a part of a school community that’s committed to providing support and interaction with our graduates into their high school years, as well as their post-secondary years,” he says.
Making a Proactive Difference
Vice Principal Conan Graham ’02 also served as a Lasallian Volunteer after graduating from Saint Mary’s. At DLSA, he plays a fundamental role in students' growth and development, overseeing social/emotional learning and discipline. The school’s behavior management philosophy is more proactive than reactive, Graham says. “It’s more about teaching the boys how to regulate their emotions and how to understand why they’re making the choices that they’re making, rather than just focusing on consequences.”
“Sometimes we have boys who come here who have had some pretty negative experiences in school around discipline, who have a very rough home life sometimes. We’re committed to putting in the work and effort to build up that trusting relationship so we get the buy-in. Seeing the students grow and mature in their years at DLSA really fulfills and sustains the work,” Graham adds.
After college, Graham considered joining the Christian Brothers, but the Brothers at Saint Mary’s ultimately inspired him to become an educator. He cites Brother Michael Avila as a significant influence, encouraging him to volunteer at a San Miguel school. “I sometimes think if I hadn’t followed his advice to take that class, I might not have gone this direction.”
The Saint Mary's Impact
Another DLSA faculty member, Diego Vasquez ’19, MA ’20, is an alumnus of two Saint Mary’s programs: English and Justice, Community, and Leadership. At DLSA, he teaches religion, English, and history courses, drawing on lessons he learned in Saint Mary’s classrooms. Vasquez credited his JCL courses for demonstrating what makes a strong educator and how to implement social justice in the classroom.“‘Every couple of weeks, I realize, ‘Oh, yeah, this is something that I’ve taken from Saint Mary’s—something that I learned or I wrote about that I’ve now just subconsciously integrated into what I do.’”
Antonio Cisneros ’14, MA ’20, DLSA’s Director of Student and Graduate Support, supports students at the middle school and beyond. “One of our main objectives is to connect with and empower families,” Cisneros explains. “With the family partnership, we are better able to provide holistic support for our students and accompany them through their years at the Academy, De La Salle High School, and help them enter a four-year college.”
"What really unifies us are the Lasallian backgrounds that we have, and the experiences that we all have gone through because of Saint Mary’s."
This work is personal for Cisneros, a product of Lasallian schools and support programs like the one he now oversees. He grew up in the Tenderloin, the working-class San Francisco neighborhood long associated with poverty and crime, and still lives there.
“I commute all the way from S.F. to Concord,” he says. “Every day that I come to this job, I give a piece of myself to the students because I know how they feel. I understand what they’re going through. And the families—every time I see a mom or a dad, I think of my parents, their struggle, what they’ve gone through.”
Cisneros commended Saint Mary’s for empowering students to uplift themselves and their community. He credited other Saint Mary’s alums, including Gianregorio, who taught his siblings at De Marillac Academy, for inspiring him to continue giving back.
“It’s a very tight-knit community. And I’m a product of those folks. We have ties here and there, but what really unifies us are the Lasallian backgrounds that we have, and the experiences that we all have gone through because of Saint Mary’s.”
Annaliese Martinez ’21 was the Staff Writer for the Office of Marketing and Communication.
If you are interested in learning more about De La Salle Academy and how you can support their mission, please visit the school’s website: https://dls-academy.org or contact the President, Chris Giangregorio at giangregorioc@dls-academy.org.