Build With Us: Meet CRJS Academic Dean Nolan Grady

The CRJS founding team is growing with the addition of Nolan Grady, Academic Dean. The academic dean works closely with the principal developing our academic program, intentional school culture, and strong student relationships. We are blessed and excited to have Nolan’s talents and experience strengthen our founding team.  

Nolan was born in Seattle and moved to Philadelphia when he was nine. There, he attended a Jesuit high school which led him back to the PNW for college at Gonzaga University. These academic experiences deepened his interest and affection for Jesuit education. After college, Nolan returned to Philadelphia, working in campus ministry at St. Joseph’s Prep and then St. Joseph’s University, two more Jesuit schools.

While he loved the mission, he sought a deeper challenge and moved to Antofagasta, Chile, where he worked at Colegio San Luis, a K-12 Jesuit school.

During his four years in Chile, Nolan was an English teacher, English Department Chair, Director of Social Formation, Director of Internationalization and Exchanges, and a Rugby coach. 

When Nolan returned to the US, he began teaching at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School as a grade 9 math teacher. He finished his Master’s in Educational Leadership, served as the chair of the math department and grade 9 team lead. After he was married in 2023, Nolan and his wife decided to begin their next chapter together on the west coast. Joining the Cristo Rey movement was deeply fulfilling and led him to seek and continue this important work.

After closely following the feasibility and launch of CRJS, when there was an opportunity to join the academic leadership team, he knew this was the next step in his work journey. 

Nolan is drawn to the mission of CRJS because it represents the union of his own story and his vocation. Returning to Washington State feels like a homecoming to Nolan and joining the mission of CRJS, especially as academic dean, aligns well with his professional experience. Nolan believes CRJS represents what Jesuit education is supposed to be in our times – creating both generational and immediate impact in the community. One of Nolan's fundamental beliefs is that anyone can learn anything and as an academic dean, he can make that possible for both students and teachers.  

Nolan is eager to work with the CRJS community. He believes there is incredible value in learning and working with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. He is excited to witness students discovering their gifts and potential.

Cristo Rey students deserve access to high-quality education, and Nolan is drawn to the opportunity to make that a reality for our students. 

Nolan wants our future students and families to know that even though college seems far off, our academic program is intentionally designed, from start to finish, to prepare students to graduate from college and go on to a successful career. This means students and families can expect excellent instruction in the classroom with high expectations all four years.

Nolan believes it takes all of us working together to achieve our goals, and he wants students to see themselves as not only grade 9 students, but as the CRJS Class of 2028, and college graduates of 2032.  

Nolan's experience working at Cristo Rey Philadelphia, an 11-year-old school, adds a long-term perspective to the energy and excitement of a start-up school mentality. As Academic Dean, Nolan will combine excellence in daily learning and instruction with strong underlying systems and procedures that encourage the whole community to thrive together. He wants to help build a culture and community that takes ownership of these outcomes. 

Nolan likes to spend his free time working on home projects. In Philadelphia, over four years, he remodeled his entire home himself and hopes to do the same in Seattle. He and his wife love to host and share meals with others. Their specialties include homemade pizza, barbeque, and cake. He loves spending time outdoors and that’s part of the reason he was drawn back to Seattle. Whether hiking, skiing, or just sitting, fresh air rejuvenates his soul.  

Nolan’s best friends might describe him as adventurous, resourceful, and thoughtful. Adventurous because he feels most alive when taking risks that push him to grow. Resourceful because, like his friend says, “siempre hay solucion” - there is always a way to make something happen, and Nolan will go to the ends of the earth to find the solution. Lastly, thoughtful because he consistently considers the needs of those around him.  

One of Nolan’s favorite words is creation.

The invitation to ‘Build the Kingdom’ is an invitation for all of us to be co-creators of the world around us. It will take all of us – students, families, teachers, staff, corporate partners, the board, volunteers, donors, and many more – to be co-creators of this school. Together, Nolan believes we can build Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle into the school that works, and he cannot wait to build with you.