On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Brother Martin High School’s Partners in Mission, along with family and friends, gathered for our annual Faculty Recognition Ceremony at the Audubon Tea Room. David G. Rhodes was honored as the Brother More Schaefer, S.C. Award recipient for excellence in instruction, commitment to formation, and demonstration of Christian witness.
Having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a certification in Biology and General Science from the University of New Orleans, Mr. Rhodes started teaching at Brother Martin in 1985. In addition to being recognized with this special award, Mr. Rhodes was also honored for his 40 years of service (over 7,000 career days of instruction) to Brother Martin and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Mr. Rhodes has served as a teacher, department chairman, moderator of various clubs, and a mentor and friend to many here at Brother Martin.
During his remarks, Mr. Rhodes shared wisdom gleaned during his years at Brother Martin: “Anything worth loving deserves your best efforts every day. It demands hard work. It demands your time, your energy, and your sweat. It doesn’t allow you to be selfish or satisfy your pride. It requires you to pay the price.” He acknowledged all the Brothers, men, and women who helped form him as a teacher in the tradition of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and recognized the responsibility of “standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Mr. Gallagher remarked that "David is also committed to the development of our students as young men of promise and ambition. He demands excellence from his students. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he expects all of his students to make perfect grades. It does mean that he expects each of his students to strive for his full capability as a student. He desires that his students become the best versions of themselves both behaviorally and scholastically, assisting step by step in the process.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to his disciples, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?”
Andre Coindre demanded of the earliest Brothers of the Sacred Heart whom he was forming that “when you’ve done all that you can, you have done all that you must.” David does that, going the extra mile for his students, for each sacred heart, through his patient yet demanding guidance."
Tommy Smith ‘71 was recognized as our Founders Medal recipient for his courage, commitment, passion, and perseverance in upholding the spirit of our original founders. A former Brother Martin student leader, teacher, and coach, Mr. Smith has been regarded as a role model both to students and peers for over 50 years. He embodies faith and humility, consistently bringing a sense of calm and professionalism, whether in the classroom, on the basketball court, or through volunteering on campus. President Greg Rando ‘77 described him as "a person who changed the world by developing young men to be their best, enabling them to go out and make a difference.”
Faculty members who were also recognized include Kelly Alexander for 30 years of service as well as Kevin Caparotta ‘88, Ryan Gallagher ‘00, Thomas Leggett, and Ryan Zeringue for 20 years of service to Brother Martin High School.
We would like to congratulate each of our Partners in Mission and special guests who received recognition for giving of themselves in service to our school.
The mission of Brother Martin High School is to form young men in a trusting environment rooted in religious values, personal attention, friendly discipline, and academic excellence, integrating the founding charism of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart with Catholic tradition to meet the needs of our changing world.
