Latest news with #CardinalHayesHighSchool
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Principal Retires After Spending Over 50 Years Working at Same High School: 'Lucky and Blessed'
Bill Lessa began his career at New York City's Cardinal Hayes High School in 1971 as a social studies teacher and worked his way up to principal by 2008 Nearly 54 years after he began his career at the school, he was honored by students, faculty and alumni at a retirement ceremony 'The success that I had in shaping and influencing young men was extremely rewarding and I would not change a single moment," Lessa saidA beloved New York City educator who spent more than 50 years working at the same high school — first as a social studies teacher and later as a principal — has called it a day. On Thursday, May 22, students, faculty and alumni of Cardinal Hayes High School paid tribute to Principal Bill Lessa, 75, at a retirement celebration held at the all-boys Catholic institution in the Bronx. 'We honored a Hayes Icon for the countless Hayesmen he's mentored and guided through the halls of Cardinal Hayes!' the school — whose famous alumni include Regis Philibin and Martin Scorsese — said in an announcement shared with PEOPLE. According to the Archdiocese of New York, Lessa, who received a standing ovation at the beginning and end of his retirement celebration, is the longest-serving educator at a single Catholic institution in the Bronx, the New York Post reported. 'I am lucky and blessed to have been able to serve my Church and our community for 54 years in a role that I enjoyed each day,' Lessa said in his remarks at the event last week. 'A role that rewarded me many times with the knowledge that I was making a difference in the world.' 'The success that I had in shaping and influencing young men was extremely rewarding and I would not change a single moment that I spent in the service of the young men I worked with at Cardinal Hayes High School,' he continued. Born in East Harlem, Lessa's relationship with the school began in September 1971 after his own graduation from Iona College, according to a biography shared with PEOPLE by the school. He first taught social studies and religion until 1974, when he was appointed a freshman counselor for Cardinal Hayes' guidance department. Two years later, he became a college advisor who helped the school's seniors and their parents navigate through the college admissions process. In 1978, he began acting as Cardinal Hayes' director of guidance, a role he held until 2014, during which time he also served as both assistant principal (a job he held from 2004-2008) and principal. Although Lessa said that he had other opportunities to work somewhere else, he decided to stay because of the appreciation he received from the school community. "These kids are the only kids I ever wanted to be with, the only kids I wanted to work with,' Lessa told the Post. Lessa's work in education also extends to his family. His wife Mary Anne previously served in the Rye City School District, and the couple's two children, Bill Jr. and Jaime, work as a guidance director and a third-grade teacher respectively. Additionally, a scholarship at the school has been named after Lessa. 'I thank all the wonderful teachers that I worked with and the leaders that I served with and of course everyone else that labored in this great school,' Lessa concluded his remarks at his retirement celebration last week. Read the original article on People
New York Post
22-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Bronx principal retires after serving entire 53-year career at all-boys parochial high school
When Principal Bill Lessa first walked through the doors of Cardinal Hayes High School as a social studies teacher in 1971, he never envisioned that he would one day become the school's longest-serving educator. Hundreds of students, faculty, alumni and friends packed into the Bronx school auditorium Thursday to celebrate Lessa's retirement, a cap on an incredible 53-year career served entirely at the all-boys Catholic institution. The Mass in his honor started and ended the same way — with a standing ovation that lasted several minutes as 'Principal Lessa' chants echoed throughout the room. Advertisement 7 Bill Lessa spent his entire 53 year as an educator at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx. Matthew McDermott 'These kids are the only kids I ever wanted to be with, the only kids I wanted to work with,' Lessa, 75, told The Post after the ceremony. 'During my career, I had many opportunities to go other places, but somehow or another, I always found the wherewithal to stay here because you can see how much they appreciate what you do for them. And those kids don't have a lot of support in a lot of areas. And I always felt that if I could be just a bit of a change agent in their lives, I would be doing something really noble.' Advertisement Lessa is the longest-serving educator at a single Catholic institution in the Bronx, according to the Archdiocese of New York — and one of the few who boast more than five decades at a school in all of New York State. The educator started his storied career at Cardinal Hayes upon graduating from Iona College in 1971 — marrying his wife Mary Anne during the few short months in between. 7 He started his career in 1971 as a social studies and religion teacher. Matthew McDermott He served as a social studies and religion teacher for three years, when he scooped up the additional responsibility of being a guidance counselor, spending decades helping his students navigate the college admissions system. Advertisement It was in 2008 that Lessa was asked to serve as the interim principal — a job that quickly became clearly his calling in life. 'I always wanted to be a teacher, but this has put me in a spot where it could be so impactful,' he explained. 7 Lessa also served as a college advisor until becoming principal in 2008. Matthew McDermott 7 The auditorium was packed with students, faculty, alumni and friends. Matthew McDermott Advertisement Lessa's love for his students has always been his major motivator. When asked what his biggest accomplishment over his 53-year career was, he emphasized that it was watching the alumni find their own success. He pointed to alumni Willie Colon, a former New York Jets guard, and Dr. Jesus Jaile-Marti, a neonatal specialist in White Plains, as examples of his pride — and gushed that the pair were among many who have come back over the years to express Lessa's influence over their phenomenal careers. 'I know that things might have been different if I hadn't run into these guys. Our job is to be transformational. That's what we're supposed to do,' Lessa said. 7 'These kids are the only kids I ever wanted to be with, the only kids I wanted to work with,' Lessa said. Matthew McDermott 'And it's cyclical. You do it every year. You have another shot every year. It just goes on and on and on.' Lessa has seen numerous phases of Cardinal Hayes throughout his five decades, and ushered the community through financial hardships that have forced dozens of other, neighboring Catholic schools to permanently shut their doors in recent years. This year's graduating class of roughly 30 young men is a far cry from the 450 who crossed the stage during Lessa's first year. 7 Lessa is the longest-serving educator at a single Catholic institution in the Bronx. Matthew McDermott Advertisement While Lessa attributes the school's survival to the determination of the students and their families, the school community pointed to him as the clear leader — especially considering he routinely pulled 12-hour days throughout his career, 'You're a great example of faithful service, fighting strength and unwavering determination,' said Father Steven Gonzalez, the school's chaplain. Luckily for the Cardinal Hayes community, Lessa isn't ready to say goodbye just yet. 7 Next, Lessa plans to work with the school's alumni network. Matthew McDermott Advertisement Although he won't serve as the school's principal, he plans to work within the alumni network, putting his more than 50 years of alumni connections to good use. Lessa hopes to start soon, and has no plans to take a vacation before starting his new gig. 'This has been my life for almost 54 years … and I'm not a 'relaxing' guy,' Lessa said. 'I find I always find something to do, especially if it's good for this particular institution.'
