Sister Joanna Burley, O.S.B. and Father Jonathan Licari, O.S.B. announce the appointment of Jesse A. Grapes as the new president of The Benedictine Schools of Richmond, Inc. The criteria established by a search committee for the new president aligned well with Mr. Grapes’s experience, skills, and leadership style. Most recently, during his decade-long tenure as Benedictine’s head of school, he strengthened the school academically, while dramatically improving enrollment, scholarship opportunities, and fund-raising, and led the school through a time of financial stress resulting in its move to the Abbey. Under his leadership, the school has had net positive operating revenue each year and is completing a successful twenty-million-dollar capital campaign. Additionally, he initiated a study for innovative program options comprised of diverse stakeholders to meet the challenges facing Catholic single-sex schools, resulting in the development of a model for separate coordinate programs for boys and girls on the same campus.
Mr. Grapes also brings with him solid past experience at a highly-awarded, innovative, and for-profit 7,000 student school system in California, where he served as a principal and regional director. Before becoming an educator, Mr. Grapes served his country as an infantry platoon commander in the United States Marine Corps, which he joined the day after 9/11. During his time as a Marine officer, Mr. Grapes deployed for three combat tours of duty in Iraq and earned numerous awards, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Mr. Grapes and his wife, Elizabeth, have four children, one of whom is a current sophomore at Benedictine, and are active members of Saint Joseph’s parish. Mr. Grapes also serves Catholic causes in the Middle East as a Knight in the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
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