18 - Walking With Families – with Theresa Flynn Houghton Building Community Through Long-Term Support
18 - Walking With Families – with Theresa Flynn Houghton
Building Community Through Long-Term Support
In this episode, Thomas sits down with De Marillac Academy President Theresa Flynn Houghton to explore how one school in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood has built a deeply relational model of Catholic education centered on accompaniment, trust, and long-term support.
De Marillac Academy’s unique approach includes a tuition-free middle school experience, extensive family partnerships, graduate support programs, and a commitment to helping students thrive well beyond graduation. But this conversation is about more than a specialized model — it is about what happens when schools intentionally create communities where students and families feel truly known.
Theresa shares:
How De Marillac builds strong family partnerships from the very beginning- Why long-term relationships matter in student success
- The importance of neighborhood and nonprofit partnerships
- How schools can support the whole child academically, socially, and emotionally
- Ways alumni remain connected and continue shaping the school community
- Practical lessons any principal can apply to strengthen belonging and trust
Whether your school serves 40 students or 400, this episode offers a powerful reminder that education is not just about programs or academics — it is about walking with families, building authentic community, and helping students discover their purpose and dignity along the way.
About De Marillac Academy:
Inspired by the inherent and unique gifts of our students and graduates, De Marillac Academy, located in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, ignites academic, spiritual, and social emotional growth through a Lasallian Vincentian Catholic educational experience.
In partnership with families and community, through an all-scholarship 4th-8th grade Academy and Graduate Support Program, we accompany our students through middle school, high school and into early adulthood, as they develop a strong sense of self, purpose, and service to others.
To get your Walking With Families Reflection Guide please visit us here.
If you want to build better support for your current and past families, please schedule a time to talk with us today. https://bit.ly/Build-IT-Better-Together
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