Choosing a high school is a family affair. For a school culture where community is central, Father Ryan High School understands that parents are a critical key to the school’s mission and each student’s success.

We spoke with four families, each with a different path to Father Ryan, all of whom share the common thread of discovering what makes the Father Ryan experience transformative for students and their families.

Lara and Jesse Saivar

Parents of Finn ’25, National Merit Finalist, Football and Tennis player, Peer Mentor, Student Ambassador, attending University of Notre Dame in the fall

Cade ’27, Football and Basketball player, Hayes Scholar, Student Ambassador

Though familiar with Nashville—Lara and Jesse met as undergraduates at Vanderbilt—they did not know anyone at Father Ryan when they moved here from California in 2022 after twenty years in Los Angeles. They also have a daughter in fifth grade at St. Henry.

What drew you to Father Ryan over other Nashville area schools, especially coming from out of state? And what aspects of the school have you appreciated now that you are here?

Jesse: From day one, Father Ryan made a large school feel like a smaller community. When we were still in Los Angeles and considering Nashville schools, Father Ryan arranged several Zooms for Finn and us that helped us get to know the school and choose classes. We showed an interest in Football, and soon, two Father Ryan coaches reached out to us to introduce themselves and ask if we had any questions.

Lara: When Finn was a freshman at Loyola High School in California, he really did not know any upperclassmen. Father Ryan, on the other hand, has done a great job of ensuring students from different years get to know each other. Father Ryan’s House System played a big role in that, and our boys (both in Trinity) really enjoy everything that comes with it. The small groups with members of every grade create a smaller community feel. As Finn grew older and had the opportunity to mentor other students, he took his own experience and applied it to mentoring younger students. I think his experience at Father Ryan has prepared him for Notre Dame. Having learned how to build meaningful relationships and integrate into a larger community at Father Ryan, those early days of college will not be nearly as intimidating.

Jesse: We hold our kids to a pretty high standard. Academics are very important to us, and our boys are both being challenged academically in their High Honors and AP classes. But, at the end of the day, we think building a strong character is more important. It’s one of the reasons we knew we wanted to continue Catholic education for our kids when we moved here.

Father Ryan does a good job of recognizing the importance of both academics and character. The school’s four levels of learning ensure that, unlike some private schools, they don’t push every kid to follow one speed… which can be counterproductive. We like that the academic rigor at Father Ryan can be adjusted based on your child’s needs.

Most importantly, though, Father Ryan focuses not just on teaching but on raising good people. The teachers show a genuine interest in knowing about their students’ lives outside of the classroom and demonstrate to the kids their own personalities and interests. It is so much more than just a teacher/student relationship. We love how much genuine interaction there is between teachers and students that goes beyond academics.

Lara: One of Finn’s teachers volunteers at a Catholic hospice that cares for the underserved and took the class to visit it. Seeing her Catholic faith put into practice had a powerful effect on him, and putting faith into action is something emblematic of the community and is something we really appreciate about it.

Jesse: Father Ryan roots are deep. We have met several people who have at least three generations of Irish in their families, but as newcomers (from California, no less), we were still welcomed immediately. It is an inviting community that cares for each other and really cares about the school. It starts early with Junior Irish events that get young kids excited about the school (and let them get to know each other early on). And the passion continues and is obvious in Father Ryan families.

With two sons playing Football, we’ve traveled to many games. I cannot tell you how many away games we have attended where Father Ryan has more people in the stands than the home team, including at a game in Memphis!

Lauren and Jay Trevathan

Parents of Emma ’28, Elliston House, Lacrosse player and Golfer

Lauren graduated from St. Cecilia Academy, and Jay graduated from Brentwood High School in Williamson County, where the Trevathans live. Emma attended her mother’s alma mater for eighth grade before applying to Father Ryan. Emma’s sibling, Harper, is in sixth grade and part of Father Ryan’s Junior Irish.

Why did your family choose Father Ryan?

Lauren: We were trying to decide if Emma should go to St. Cecilia for high school. My sister returned to Nashville from Seattle, and her son, who is the same age as Emma, was enrolling at Father Ryan. I was surprised that Father Ryan has a tight sense of community even though it is a much bigger school than St. Cecilia. How Father Ryan approaches everything just makes it feel smaller. She knew a handful of people from St. Cecilia when she arrived at Father Ryan, and her House Mentor Group made her feel more at home. The Freshman Seminar course acclimated Emma to the community, classes, and how to function in a new school. Everyone is authentically nice. That warmth is the heart of Father Ryan.

Jay: The sports teams and different clubs have the same effect. We want her to be challenged and have a full experience, too. We moved to Williamson County for the public schools. I went to Brentwood High School. But everyone else moved here for the public schools, and now they are huge. We began to think about how great it would be to send Emma to Father Ryan.  

Lauren: There are more than 200 courses offered, which a small school cannot provide. Emma has more opportunities, including academic travel programs. She sings in the Choir, and because of no-cut sports at Father Ryan, she tried Lacrosse and Golf, which she loves. As a social worker with the VA, Father Ryan’s service commitment is a huge part of why we sent Emma there.

The four levels of learning make a huge difference. Emma is in College-Preparatory Math and tested into three Honors courses: English, social studies, and Spanish. Every teacher has open office hours in the morning, so extra help is easy to find. Emma’s Theology teacher said that her goal is for each child to have a relationship with God. When you have that kind of helping culture, it just feels different.  

Jay: Father Ryan families are made up of many different backgrounds and influences, but we are all of the same mindset. For the most part, the students have the same expectations as their families. They want to make their school better.

Lauren: To us, the small things are huge. There are a lot of freshmen on the Lacrosse team, but Emma gets individual help from the coach. The school was very responsive and helpful when we were applying initially and had many questions. Being kind and going the extra mile is part of the Father Ryan culture. As a faith-centered school, this speaks to the kind of humans they are shaping.

When we were deciding whether to send Emma to Father Ryan, we talked to friends who are alumni or whose children were enrolled. Everyone was so proud of their experience. When a man in the grocery store saw Emma’s Father Ryan sweatshirt, he said, ‘All four of my kids went there. Best decision I ever made.’ Just knowing that everyone in the administration is accessible feels so good to us. The feeling of care for your child and us is irreplaceable.

Cindy Martinez

Parent of Josh Young ’25, 2024-25 Ryan Man, Captain of Mentor Group, Peer Mentor, Co-Captain of Lacrosse and Bowler

Cindy Martinez, a Vanderbilt administrator, assumed all three of her children would attend public schools. Then, her oldest child, Josh, learned about Father Ryan through middle school lacrosse. He graduates this May from Father Ryan after an immersion in academics, sports, service, and a community that neither mother nor son was expecting.

Why did you choose Father Ryan over public school?

Cindy: Father Ryan was never on our radar. Josh’s eighth-grade English teacher at West End Middle School went to Father Ryan and encouraged him to apply. As a single mom, I figured it was not in our budget. We started to get to know Father Ryan families when West End’s Lacrosse team merged with the Catholic school’s team, and that sparked our interest. We attend a Baptist church, and I always wanted him to attend a Christian school. A Catholic school never crossed my mind, but we loved its Christian-centered values. He received Father Ryan’s Tommy Bateman Scholarship, but Father Ryan provided the biggest financial support for us by making it work so I could afford a monthly payment.

Josh knew only four students before he started at Father Ryan, but the House System changed all of that. Josh’s House gave him the opportunity to grow closer to the students and teachers in Trinity. They treated him like family right away.

The greatest surprise for both of us was the sense of belonging and community. Father Ryan welcomed us with open arms. Since we were coming from a public school, I was worried that we would be outsiders, but we never felt that way with Father Ryan because it was so welcoming. I created my close-knit circle of friends from the parent activities. Father Ryan gave me a sense of belonging in a Christ-centered community. My son has learned how to serve with a heart of gold without expecting anything in return. I love that the school has influenced this part of his character. Josh tells me that he is surrounded by a community of people who want the best for him and bring out the best version of himself.

The personalized academic approach has been amazing. Josh started with a combination of College Preparatory and Honors classes and now takes AP Spanish. His counselors always help when we have questions about the learning path and college applications.

He has had a different leadership role in Trinity each year. He was voted Freshman Delegate, Chaplain, and Captain of his Mentor Group. Now, he is the Ryan Man (school mascot). When he was chosen as the Ryan Man, I knew it was perfect for him because he is an entertainer.

He was also selected to be a Peer Mentor, a mentoring program beyond the House System. When he was a freshman, he developed a close relationship with his assigned Peer Mentor, Cole, an upperclassman and Lacrosse player. The greatest thing that happened to my son at Father Ryan was finding his incredible friend group. They complement each other so well and have a special, unbreakable bond. Josh’s relationship with Father Ryan really flourished and has been the biggest blessing to our family. 

Tracy and Josh ’96 Cockerham

Parents of Kennedy ’25, Captain of Immaculata, Volleyball player, Student Ambassador, attending University of Tennessee in the fall

Ryan ’28, Basketball and Football player

Josh Cockerham ’96 grew up on the Father Ryan campus. His mother, Jinx Cockerham, taught and coached Volleyball and girls Basketball for over four decades at Father Ryan. Today, the family’s all-in Irish spirit continues to welcome all students, teachers, and families into the fold.

As a Father Ryan legacy family, how has Father Ryan and its community evolved?

Josh: I grew up at the old Father Ryan campus attending practices and functions after school and also during the summers while my mom coached. Tracy fell in love with the community as well. She was pretty convinced that even before our kids were born, they were going to be Irish. It is an honor to be part of continuing that legacy and family culture. As Nashville and Father Ryan have grown, the school has become more strategic and diverse. As a faith-based school, families are very welcoming, creating an even more dynamic Father Ryan family.

The school constantly explores new ideas and new approaches to learning and building community like the House System, which provides a great opportunity for students to be immediately involved in school life. Our family has two children who learn differently. The personalized learning program gives them flexibility within the curriculum, and this allows them both to flourish.

Tracy: Prior to becoming a Father Ryan student, school did not necessarily rate high on Ryan's list of favorite things to do. Now, he comes home and talks about his teachers and what he likes about them. It has nothing to do with his grades. It is about his relationship with his teachers. Hearing our son talk about his teachers in such a positive way is wonderful.

Josh: Father Ryan does a very good job of balancing accountability and keeping the door open between teacher and student.

Tracy: Father Ryan continues to add to its spiritual and faith base, whether fostering volunteer opportunities or daily Mass. Then you have the academics. Every student is held to high expectations and gets support to reach that standard. Kennedy is prepared for college because she is used to Father Ryan’s high standards.

Josh: Almost 99.99% of new families I speak to about Father Ryan say that it is the greatest experience. I have also heard many times from friends and peers with children outside of Father Ryan say that if you want to create a culture of community, you need to mimic Father Ryan. That is the ultimate compliment.