As our Class of 2024 leaves our presence, but never leave our hearts, we want to end this phenomenal school year with great gratitude to all the seniors who going to uncharted territory, the students who are
looking forward to the next adventure. Then there are faculty and staff who are concluding their journey at SUA.

There is one special person who has helped SUA in a multitude of ways for more than four decades. She was the visionary who started the Educational Services Program (ES), which was established in 1982, so that each student has the opportunity to develop her academic potential. Saint Ursula Academy’s Educational Services Program (ES Program) serves girls with learning disabilities and AD/HD by providing accommodations and support identified in the student’s service plan or IEP. Students in the ES Program meet the same academic requirements as their classmates and are mainstreamed into college preparatory, honors, and Advanced Placement classes.

Her name is Geri Walsh. Miss Geri as I call her. She has helped me with the Equity and Inclusion articles for the last couple of years. She is a true historian of Saint Ursula Academy. She knows where all the bodies are buried at SUA…LOL. She will retire this year. Geri is the epitome of what the founding sisters dreamed when they started Saint Ursula Academy and lives the core values set forth by Saint Angela Merici. She displays the love of GOD with every student and encourages them to be the thinkers, leaders, nurturers and prophets she knows they will become. She has empowered them to know
the sky is the limit despite of their learning challenges. She had championed diversity, equity and inclusion as the rule and not the exception. She walks by faith with the courage to know that her integrity is her legacy in the world and especially at SUA.

On top of everything else she does at SUA, she is a member of the Board's Ursuline Identity Committee, which ensures the school hold true to the foundation of the Ursuline values and Catholic teaching.
Miss Geri will be deeply missed, but she leaves behind a legacy and a path for those who come after her and continue the great work she and the ES team has completed. Get some much needed rest Miss Geri. No more alarm clocks and traffic.
On behalf of myself and everyone at SUA, we thank you with our whole hearts!!!!!

-- Alicia Tidwell, VP of Community Advancement, Equity and Inclusion