Ethan Zhao ‘26

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After 24 years of teaching at Strake Jesuit, Mr. Guillermo Hernández-Ching earned his doctoral degree in education this April, officially becoming Dr.Hernández-Ching. 

Growing up in Costa Rica, Dr. Hernández-Ching developed a passion for music, noting, “Following a career in music education was something I enjoyed and could not see myself doing anything else.” In college, he pursued chemical engineering and played for the National Youth Symphony where he was recruited by Loyola University New Orleans in 1995. After graduating from Loyola University New Orleans in 2000, his teachers encouraged him to apply for a position at Strake Jesuit. 

“I was unclear what I wanted to do after graduation,” Dr. Hernández-Ching said. “I could not see the path clearly, but because of my teachers’ encouragement and insistence, I applied to Strake Jesuit, and later was hired by Mr. Nevle.”

Throughout his decades-long tenure at the school, Dr. Hernández-Ching has taught Music Appreciation, Algebra, Digital Audio Production, AP Music Theory, and more to students from both Strake Jesuit and St. Agnes. He directs the Orchestra, leads sophomore retreats, and participates in nearly all aspects of campus life, yet what he loves most about teaching is daily interaction with students. 

“Teaching is highly satisfying and joyful: to be able to experience my students’ life growth, not just in the four years but over a longer span, to see them go to college, graduate, start families,” Dr. Hernández-Ching explained. “I look forward to seeing their kids come to Jesuit and them.” 

As a long serving faculty member who has witnessed the school’s growth, Dr. Hernández-Ching sees “how our school continuously progresses over time with a sincere commitment to improvement nested in a forward-thinking culture. The work we do as an institution shouldn’t be taken for granted. I’ve witnessed the school impact’s firsthand, and it is a privilege to teach and work here.” 

Teaching at Jesuit has also helped Dr. Hernández-Ching understand and gain more meaning in his work. “When I started music, it was the primary concentration,” he reflected. “Now, I seek to align areas I lead to the mission of the school. I gained a deeper sense of what that mission means and its transformational impact. The highest call for a teacher at Jesuit is to form Men for Others.  When I started, I understood the mission. Now, I experience it and witness it every day when working alongside our inspiring faculty and staff.”

Now, Dr. Hernández-Ching has begun a new chapter in his teaching career at Strake Jesuit, earning his doctoral degree in Catholic Education Leadership after years of studying at St. Louis University. His team wrote their project on the effects of COVID-19 on teacher departures and found that teacher attrition in Catholic schools increased 200% from the national average. “It took a year to gather the data and a semester to write the document. We were done with the project in December 2022, and defended the dissertation on April 16th.”  Dr. Hernández-Ching graduated May 15th (with Dr. Romano). One of the key challenges he faced was “to find a work-life-school balance. Each area is equally demanding, and I had to find time outside work hours to complete the requirements. Many late nights.” However, the studies in the program were worthwhile.

“I gained a better understanding of Catholic schools’ administrative processes,” Dr. Hernández-Ching said, “and deeper engagement with Catholic education.  I wish to apply this knowledge to the betterment of the visual and performing arts at Jesuit and continue to serve our community.”