Todd Orlando, Principal, Bishop Kenny High School

In an interview with Invest:, Todd Orlando, principal at Bishop Kenny High School, discussed Bishop Kenny’s numerous leadership opportunities for students through its wide range of extracurriculars, how it has been a leader in implementing technology in education, and integrating Catholicism into its educational offerings.

What have been some major highlights for Bishop Kenny over the past 12 months?

In the last year, we embarked on an exciting capital campaign. We are in the midst of building a state-of-the-art athletic training center for our student athletes, as well as a practice gymnasium complex. This will include classrooms, PE offices, renovated locker rooms, and a multipurpose room. The third facet of this campaign is to support the BKHS Endowment and further pave the way for future generations of students who will pass through our halls. This expansion is due to a couple of factors. One is the growth of Jacksonville. The economy and the influx of people moving into Jacksonville have increased the demand for our schools. We are centrally located in Jacksonville, which is advantageous for us as we have seen a significant increase in our enrollment over the last six years. We expect this trend to continue because of Jacksonville’s growth, both in population and economy.

Secondly, this year, we are celebrating our 73rd year at Bishop Kenny High School, providing Catholic college preparatory education for grades nine through 12. Post-COVID, it is evident that parents want their kids in a brick-and-mortar setting. They want the traditional Catholic faith formation and educational experience that we have been providing for many years. Therefore, we decided in our last five-year strategic plan to embark on this expansion due to the demand on our facilities and our growth. 

In what ways does a Catholic school prepare students or bring value to their lives in terms of becoming better professionals or personal growth?

Our mantra is that we are preparing minds, hearts, and souls for college and for life. Our Catholic identity is what separates us from every other school in Jacksonville. Our Catholic identity and faith formation inform everything we do. All students study religion all four years and community service is a significant part of our educational formation. Alongside their academic, athletic, and extracurricular pursuits, students learn to live purposeful lives in service of others, whether it be in their community, their church, their school/work, or in their families.

Additionally, we offer more than 50 clubs, ensuring there is something for everyone. We also have 23 sports teams, providing many opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities. The whole day begins anew after the school bell rings, making high school fun and enriching. These experiences help students develop skills, make memories, and prepare for college and life.

What initiatives or approaches are you using to ensure that your students have the necessary skills for the digital future?

Eleven years ago, we were one of the first schools in Northeast Florida to implement a one-to-one iPad initiative. All our students are equipped with iPads, and our teachers have both iPads and laptops. We have three computer labs on campus, including a Mac lab and PC labs, giving students and teachers the opportunity to work with both platforms. Our campus has complete Wi-Fi access, and each classroom is equipped with an 86” Promethean board, a large interactive board that enhances the learning experience through collaborative teaching methods while catering to diverse learning styles and leveraging technology to make education more engaging and effective. Teachers can write on it, look things up, download videos, and save notes, which can be sent to students who are absent.

In the last four years, we have updated all our classrooms with new technology. We are refreshing the last building with new desks, LED lighting, carpet, and blinds. This will be completed in the next two years. Simultaneously, we are building the athletic training center and will soon start on the gym and multipurpose room. All this activity is happening in the next two to three years. It is exciting for our current students and future generations, ensuring Bishop Kenny remains forward-looking for the next 25 to 30 years.

What are the top priorities for Bishop Kenny’s 2023 to 2028 strategic plan?

Our strategic plan focuses on several areas. Firstly, our academic and faith components are priorities. We emphasize our Catholic identity, ensuring ongoing catechesis training and professional development for our faculty and staff. This ensures a faith-filled environment, which is crucial for our students’ moral development. We want them to leave with a skill set and a moral compass, knowing right from wrong, and leaning on their faith as their primary guide in life.

Academically, we are constantly evaluating our curriculum. In the last four years, we added the Advanced Placement Capstone program, and we offer 26 Advanced Placement classes, allowing students to take college-level courses. We aim to challenge our students and ensure they remain competitive for the next level of education.

Operational vitality is another key component. This includes maintaining and updating our facilities with the latest technology and ensuring the safety of our school. We have implemented access control doors, doorbells, and camera systems to keep our campus secure. Additionally, we are planning for future expansions to accommodate the growing demand for our resources.

What leadership development strategies or programs are in place to encourage students to become leaders?

Within most of our extracurricular activities, especially our popular service clubs, there are leadership opportunities. These clubs are run by our students, which fosters leadership development alongside the service component. One of our hallmark programs is the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program (NJROTC). This program’s curriculum is entirely designed to teach citizenship and leadership skills. Students learn various facets of leadership, discipline, and naval curriculum. We emphasize the college route first, but this program also provides skills that are valuable in the military and beyond, such as air rifle, drill team, and drone competition. Our relationship with Embry-Riddle allows students to become certified drone flyers, providing them with competencies that are valuable in both the military and civilian sectors.

What are some of the significant challenges you are facing in the education sector and how is Bishop Kenny addressing them?

The biggest challenge right now is managing growth. We have such a high demand, which is a good problem to have, but it requires careful management. Enrollment has increased over the last six years, and for the last two years, we have had a waiting list. We are focused on maintaining our culture and ensuring we have the right students who will benefit from and contribute to our environment. We have a strategic plan that looks at the last 10 years and the next five years, focusing on providing quality education, excellent teachers, and a safe environment for our students to thrive.

What needs to be done to ensure access to education given the growth in student numbers in Jacksonville?

I am responsible for Bishop Kenny, which is one of 35 schools in the Diocese of St. Augustine and the largest in the diocese. My focus is on our current families and providing the best education possible. We have a strategic plan for our facilities and resources, ensuring we meet the needs of our students and continue to provide the hallmarks of tradition, excellence, and faith BK has become known for. We accept several state-funded scholarships and have a tuition assistance program as part of our mission to help make our school accessible to more families. The question of expanding or building new schools is beyond my role, but it is something the entire city and public school system will need to address.

How do you handle diversity and inclusion within the school?

As a Catholic school, we welcome students of all backgrounds who wish to contribute to our community and be nourished by it. We are proud to have diversity in our student body and we ensure our admissions process considers the entire city of Jacksonville and all our feeder schools. We have had a robust financial assistance program for over 25 years, providing tuition assistance to families who cannot afford a Bishop Kenny education. This ensures we can offer a Catholic College Prep education to a diverse group of students, supporting those who are struggling financially.