Welcome Mr. Abrams

List of 5 items.

• Why St. Joseph’s Prep? What excites you about the Prep? What are you looking forward to coming to Philadelphia?

  St. Joseph’s Prep is a place where so many stories collide.  The school is a rich tapestry of three states and nearly 200 zipcodes.  To be a part of this community will not only challenge me professionally, but personally.  And while I am certainly looking forward to cheesesteaks at my fingertips, I am more so looking forward to deeply connecting with the city and the people.

• Why have you chosen to make your career in Jesuit education? What calls you to this work?

  Jesuit education has resonated with me for many reason, but I often come back to these three foundations:

  1. We ask our students (faculty and staff) to find God in all things.  I think that is so powerful when you stop to acknowledge the moments, big or small, when God's presence is felt.  There are so many things in our lives that take our attention, but the encouragement and time (Examen) that we intentionally allow for this reflection is extremely impactful to me. 
  2. We ask our students to be contemplatives in action.  I think many Jesuit schools wrestle with the notion of being “all things to everybody” because at our foundation we want our students to find their voice and make their unique impact.  The Ignatian way of proceeding is wonderful because it doesn’t allow the community to always operate at a sprint.  It encourages reflection, discernment and thoughtfulness while simultaneously giving students the space to ideate, collaborate, and create.
  3. We genuinely care for each student's unique talents and gifts: Cural Personalis. I know that you will find many schools that say they care for students individually, but I challenge people to find a more intentional approach than that of the Ignatian tradition. 

• How do you engage different constituents: prospective students, prospective parents, middle school teachers, principals?

  I think the most important thing you can do is be an active listener.  Whomever I speak with, at any given time, it is important that I communicate through my actions that their priorities have just become my priorities as well.  I am a firm believer that when someone feels heard and seen, whether you agree or disagree, there is mutual understanding that can be gained. And at the end of the day, we are all working towards ensuring that our students are safe and engaging in a community in which they feel connection and belonging.   

• What have you learned from the success that you achieved at Blakefield?

  I can often be heard saying after an event or a meeting, “teamwork, makes the dream work.”  I believe in the power of community, maybe to a fault.  If you are willing to listen, engage, and be present for those you work with, I think you can accomplish some pretty incredible things.  I attribute much of the success I have been a part of professionally to being a member of great teams that always keep the mission of the work as our North Star. 

• Where are you originally from and where did you attend high school?

  I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and I attended McDonogh School.