Pro Operis Awards

During our All School Mass on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, we celebrated our outstanding and dedicated staff for milestone years of service to Brother Rice High School.

The Pro Operis Awards, from the Latin meaning “for work,” recognizes faculty and staff members who have completed significant milestones for years of service to Brother Rice High School. In recent years our school community has been unable to gather and thank our deserving teachers, counselors, and school staff members for their extraordinary dedication to our students and school mission. President Tom Reidy and Principal Ed Okuniewski proudly honored those who have exceeded ten years of service to our school.

Faculty and staff who have completed between 10 and 14 years of service to Brother Rice High School include Mr. Cleveland Bates (10 years), Mrs. Nina Jennings (10 years), Sister Elena Sabalausky (12 years), Mrs. Mary Clack (10 years), Mrs. Michelle Lievois (10 years), Mr. Reed DeMarco (11 years), and Mrs. Michelle Neubauer (13 years – not pictured).

Faculty and staff who have completed between 15 and 19 years of service to Brother Rice High School include Mr. Mark Dyar ’75 (18 years), Mrs. Susan Reid (15 years), Mr. Dan McGrath ’96 (15 years), Sister Marie Cacciatore (16 years), Mr. Tim Kury (15 years), Mr. Robert Barnes (15 years), Mrs. Debby Flynn (17 years), Mrs. Wendy Nuss (17 years), and Mr. Joe Kalczynski ’96 (16 years).

Faculty and staff who have completed between 20 and 24 years of service to Brother Rice High School include Mr. Bob Riker (23 years), Mr. Scott Kuschel (22 years), and Mr. Michael Venos (21 years).

Serving any business, company, organization, or school for 25 years is an admirable and rare feat that requires exceptional passion and dedication to the mission. In a special way, we honor those individuals who have completed 25 or more years of service and commitment to Brother Rice High School.

Mr. Chris Kase began his teaching career at Brother Rice in 1995 and served as a teacher in both the English Department and World Languages Department. Currently, he is a Band Dean, Moderator of the Early Bird Program, and English Department Chair. Congratulations to Mr. Kase, who has completed 26 years at Brother Rice!

In 1993, Mr. Thane Hall began his service to our school and the mission of Blessed Edmund Rice as a Theology teacher. Over the years, he has coached soccer and baseball, traveled on mission trips, led Kairos, and now serves as Theology Department Chair and Director of Campus Ministry. In recognition of completing his 28th year of service to Brother Rice, congratulations, Mr. Hall!

A Brother Rice teaching and coaching legend, Mr. Ray Kossakowski, started at our school in 1992. He has taught chemistry, spent many years coaching wrestling, and has been a trusted leader and mentor to many junior faculty members over the years. Today, he serves in the role of Science Department Chair. Congratulations, Mr. Kossakowski, on completing 29 years of service to Brother Rice!

Mr. Denny King ’64 is a member of our first graduating class and has served in every role imaginable at our school – teacher, coach, bus driver, and security officer. Recently, he was honored by the Athletics Department for 47 years of volunteerism in keeping the basketball program scorebook, as well. Congratulations to Mr. King on completing 33 years of service to Brother Rice!

Perhaps our most popular Brother Rice Warrior is Mr. Mike Cassidy. He is a consistent presence at football games, school events, and around the hallways of Brother Rice. He has committed his time to improving our campus and is integral in providing a pleasant dining environment for our students each day. In 2017, he was inducted into the Spirit of Blessed Edmund Society. In appreciation for completing 35 years of dedicated service to Brother Rice, congratulations to Mr. Cassidy!

Mr. Doug Filo has been an incredible role model and mainstay at Brother Rice since 1981 – teaching many Brother Rice alumni and their sons over the years. He served in the roles of Dean of Students, Director of Admissions and has taught World History and Psychology. In 2017, he was inducted into the Spirit of Blessed Edmund Society. Last year was his 40th year of service to Brother Rice. Congratulations, Mr. Filo!

Thank you to all of our dedicated Brother Rice faculty and staff, who have made our school a priority in their lives, day in and day out, especially over the past two years. May God bless each of you.

Live, Jesus, in our hearts. Forever!