Home sweet home. After graduating in the same class in 2007 from Regis Jesuit High School, Eric Ptolemy and Tomas Gallegos have come back to their alma mater to teach. Mr. Ptolemy has taken a theology role since his return and Mr. Gallegos worked in the Spanish Department. Although it may seem that they came straight out of college to come back here, they actually taught at different schools before hand.

Why did you come back to Regis Jesuit specifically to teach?
Ptolemy: “I had always felt a pull back here. These were such formative years in my life and they really helped build a foundation to build upon. I am very grateful for the teachers and influences I had during my years at Regis Jesuit.”
Gallegos: “Prior to coming to Regis I taught in South-Central Los Angeles and Santiago, Chile. Luckily, I’ve been very fortunate to travel a lot, but as I continued to compare other places to Denver, and other schools to Regis, it because a pretty clear indicator that it was time to come back.”

Do you enjoy teaching here?
Ptolemy: “I love teaching here. It is tough sometimes because I hold our students to such a high standard. I am so proud of this institution and at times it leaves me feeling frustrated when we don’t live up to those high standards.”
Gallegos: “I do. There’s something special that happens here and I’m enjoying being a part of that.”

Do you ever see yourself in your freshman students now?
Ptolemy: “In some ways yes and other ways no. It seems like an eternity that I was a freshmen at RJ. As a former 5 foot tall freshmen I can see similarities in how small I was. I think that freshmen year is such a time to explore your own identity and try to figure out what role you will play here at Regis.”
Gallegos: “Yes and no- I think that all of our students bring something unique to Regis and contribute in different ways to the family here. So in that sense, it’s tough to see someone who fits into all of the smaller pieces that made up my Regis experience.”

How has the school changed since you were here?
Ptolemy: “The Steele Center has replaced a very simple grass hill we once had. The culture and tone around the school has remained very similar. The relationship between the girls and the boys division is in a much better place than when I was a student.”
Gallegos: “When Mr. Fenoglio, Mr. Ptolemy and I started we were actually in the Girl’s Division and we made the move to this building our sophomore year. The most apparent changes were the additions of the art work, the PAC, and the little touches that make this place feel like home.”

Mr. Ptolemy and Mr. Gallegos both seem to be at home in their work lives here at Regis Jesuit.