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“Make good choices.” It is a phrase students hear often from Mr. Catey, if not every day; a reminder that the choices you make today can have a significant impact on what tomorrow brings. As a religion and social studies teacher for seventh grade, Mr. Catey knows how important it is for young teens to be reminded of this important message, so he tries to chisel it into their minds on a regular basis.

“Make good choices.” It's not just a phrase, but a concept Mr. Catey tries to live by as well. He originally majored in Criminal Justice as a young college student, intending to pursue a career as a lawyer, in law enforcement, or in a prison setting. He knew that his end goal was to somehow make a positive contribution in the lives of others. With graduation came the reality that those jobs were not so easy to come by, so Mr. Catey ended up in the corporate jungle instead. He worked in business for over twenty years before realizing that he wanted to make a change. The “a-ha moment” came when a colleague asked him what he was doing to make the world a better place, and he didn't feel like he had a good answer. Further introspection led him to recognize that he felt significantly inspired by the teachers at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School in Everett, Washington, where his daughters attended. He could see clearly that they were making a difference in his daughters' lives, and he wanted to do the same for others. He went back to school while working full time to earn his teaching credential. The rest is history.

Now in his tenth year at St. Serra, Mr. Catey appreciates the choice to make a career change, and is grateful for the support he receives from his colleagues and the parents at the school. “I enjoy the subjects I teach because I find them interesting,” he says. “Teaching religion helps me continue to live and share my faith with students." Mr. Catey definitely finds ways to demonstrate what it means to live and share one's faith. His religion classes recently finished up a service project as part of their Lenten almsgiving. Aside from teaching in the classroom, Mr. Catey is involved in Campus Ministry and runs St. Serra's annual presentation the “Living Stations of the Cross," a time-honored tradition that takes place every year on Holy Thursday.

Life outside of St. Serra is busy for Mr. Catey. He is married and has two grown daughters; one lives in Washington and the other in New Mexico. He is proud to share that he became a first-time grandpa in June of 2022. He and his wife take full advantage of living in southern California by spending a lot of time outdoors, and whenever possible, on the water. A “fun fact” that many may not know about Mr. Catey is that he is an UBER driver in the summertime. When he is not working, Mr. Catey enjoys following the Seattle sports scene and the occasional golf outing, but most of all, he cherishes the time spent with family and friends.

“Make good choices.” Mr. Catey's choice to pursue a career in education has been a good choice, and most certainly a rewarding one. He is known for caring about his students, and often asks about them even after they have gone on to eighth grade and high school. “I try to pass on what I have learned and experienced to them,” he shares. And although being an educator comes with its challenges as well as occasional hard days, Mr. Catey always approaches his job with an attitude of gratitude, and a healthy dose of humor. “Being a teacher is a rewarding job and I love it,” he says, and continues with a wink, “even on those days when it may not seem like it.”