April 5, 2024

Dear Friends of The Good Shepherd School,

Whenever you walk into the Good Shepherd School or anywhere in New Orleans, you can sense the spirit of Fr. Harry Tompson.  His passion, determination, and faith are evident in so many missions, organizations, and people.  Fr. Tompson entered his eternal reward on this day in 2001, but his legacy endures.
Gambit Weekly, in recognizing Fr. Tompson posthumously in 2001 as the New Orleanian of the year, said – “He had a vision of bridging the huge financial and cultural chasm between the city’s wealthiest and poorest citizens, and he devoted all his energies to making that vision a reality.”  As a pastor in the CBD, Fr. Tompson saw firsthand the poverty, racism, ignorance, and violence that plague our city. 

Fr. Tompson knew the power one person had in helping others defy the odds – and he challenged us to be that “one person” for others.  In many ways, Fr. Tompson was an early pioneer in the national school choice movement by providing opportunity and access to a quality, faith-based education that is totally funded by the generosity of others.  In the January before his death, Fr. Tompson told a packed audience at a fundraiser for GSS – “We are going to take these young children and help them understand that there is love in this world.  You and I are going to take care of them.”

For the past twenty-three years, the GSS mission and those who believe in it have taken care of the young children and families entrusted to us.   Entire family narratives are being changed by the GSS mission – by Fr. Harry’s dream.

• GSS now has 239 graduates and 255 current students.  We have 148 graduates thriving in local high schools, nineteen who have completed their college degrees, and over 60 more pursuing their degrees.
• 100% of GSS graduates finish high school in four years compared to 76.7% from Orleans Parish public schools.
• Approximately 85% of GSS graduates are on pace to graduate college – compared to students of similar poverty backgrounds, only 52.6% of local public school graduates even enroll in college and fewer actually graduate.
• On the recent national NWEA MAP test, our kindergarten students have astonishing results – in reading, 57% scored mastery or advanced and over 91% scored basic and above; in math, 53% scored mastery or advanced and over 85% scored basic and above.
• 2022 – 2023 LEAP test improvements were pronounced with the following increases in students scoring basic & above: 21% increase in ELA, 71% increase in math, and 102% increase in social studies.

The Gambit Weekly article mentioned that even though he “did not live to see the fulfillment of his life’s greatest work, Fr. Tompson did everything he could to make sure that work would continue after his passing.”  Our mission is a community effort and we ask all to consider being “partners in our mission” – to be that one person for others – as we enhance the lives of our students and the greater community we serve – GSS Donation Page - Good Shepherd School - New Orleans, LA (thegoodshepherdschool.org).  We are forever grateful for your selfless generosity to keep the legacy of Fr. Tompson thriving and growing.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,
​
Thomas G. Moran, Jr.
President/CEO