Santa Rita High School

Before working at Santa Rita, Wendy was a student at the eastside high school. The Class of ’88 alum had a brief stint at Santa Rita prior to the pandemic but then joined the staff as the finance manager in March of 2023.  

The first or second day on the job, Wendy was tidying up when she noticed a picture on a bulletin around the corner from her space. Something about the photo felt familiar. After digging out her glasses to get a better look, Wendy realized she was in the photo! It was taken of the swim team her junior year. (Wendy worked as the swim team manager.) 

She asked around to see if the photo was put up for her or as a prank, but it wasn’t. It was just a funny coincidence. 
“I love [Santa Rita High School] quite a bit,” Wendy said. “I feel like I was meant to be here.” 

Enrique always says: Santa Rita is home. And why wouldn’t it be? Enrique has spent the last 25 years at the eastside school.  

I’m so happy to be a part of Santa Rita,” Enrique said. “Like I say, once an eagle, always an eagle.” 

Through his tenure at Santa Rita, plenty has changed. Students come and go, administrators and teachers have left, and new ones have come in their place, teaching styles have changed, and more. But still, Enrique doesn’t “have two bad things to say about my school.” 

Outside of work, he can be seen doing the same type of stuff he does at work. Enrique is a handyman and mechanic and is always working on one thing or another.

Cole is Santa Rita’s Golden Boy. At least, that’s what his girlfriend (and most likely a few others) call him. The senior, who is originally from Mesa, is the president of HOSA, a National Honor Society member, football captain, baseball captain, wrestling captain, and president of the Santa Rita MESA (Mathematics, Engineering & Science Achievement) Club. 

“I love being around here,” Cole said. I love being around all the students and all the staff, and I just want to create a good culture here. And I love doing extracurriculars, so I thought that was a good way to do it.” 

Cole also loves the intimacy of attending a smaller school. It feels more personalized to each student, he said. After graduation, Cole plans to attend Arizona State University to study kinesiology in hopes of becoming an athletic trainer, or maybe even an athletic director one day.