Introducing the Second President of St. John Paul the Great: Steve Pries
March 5, 2024
From the Desk of Bob Gross
Chairman, Board of Trustees
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to introduce Steve Pries as the second President of St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School. Founding President Jeff Kummer will continue to serve the school community in a leadership role as the Chief Operating Officer.
Throughout the history of St. John Paul the Great, one thing has been abundantly clear: God wants this school to succeed. Against all odds in construction, fundraising, staffing, and recruitment, God has made a way. Time and time again, He has sent us skilled and faithful leaders to ensure this project reaches its full potential. We believe that God has brought both Jeff and Steve to this team – now, with their unique talents – to see our school continue to grow.
From day one, Jeff has brought an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience in launching successful businesses to our school. His dedication to building culture, intentionally hiring and investing in our faculty, and sharing the mission with our community is unmatched. We are truly grateful for his commitment to leading St. John Paul the Great these past two years. Without Jeff, the school you see today would simply not exist.
As we look forward to the future, we know that the team must evolve and expand to see this dream fully realized, and as such, we welcome Mr. Pries to the role of President of St. John Paul the Great, effective July 1, 2024. Steve has an immense background in leadership, fundraising, and mission advancement, specifically from his fourteen years at FOCUS, most recently as the Senior Director of Philanthropy. He is dedicated to classical, liberal arts education and will be an incredible addition to our school. You can learn more about Steve’s background in the short biography below.
Together with the school leadership team, Steve and Jeff will work tirelessly to build a school, yes, but more than that, a movement of education within our Church. With their unique gifts, the generosity of our donors, the trust of our parents, and God’s grace, St. John Paul the Great will continue to thrive.
St. John Paul the Great, Pray for Us!
Meet Steve Pries
A Colorado native, Steve began his personal journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ in college. He graduated in 2007 from Colorado State University and began working for FOCUS. He served as a campus missionary before transitioning into multiple leadership positions within FOCUS over 14 years.
Most recently, Steve served FOCUS as a Senior Director of Philanthropy and was part of a leadership team at FOCUS that successfully executed one of the largest capital campaigns in the history of the apostolate.
Steve sat on the Board of Directors for Golden View Classical Academy for four years, successfully leading the Board as Chairman through the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve is an avid outdoorsman, has walked the Camino de Santiago three times, and enjoys spending his free time with his family.
Steve holds a Master’s Degree in Theology from the Augustine Institute, an MBA from Benedictine College, and a MOL (Masters in Organizational Leadership) from the University of Mary. He resides in Lakewood, Colorado, with his wife, Ali, and thirteen-year-old son, Kolbe.
