Camp Cat became a home for me ... my reason to keep pushing. CAL WYLIE I want you to know that you are somebody worth fighting for. Mr. Cat told me that his strengths come from you. ADRIAN RAMIREZ Stories From the Campfire To understand the “Catanese Effect,” you have to listen to the students. At the end of every camp, during a graduation ceremony that many find more moving than their actual high school commencements, the students speak their truth. Adrian Ramirez, a former camper, recalled asking Catanese how he manages to be in so many places at once for his students. Catanese responded with a parable about a man at the gates of heaven being asked to “show his scars.” “In your time on Earth, was there nothing you found worth fighting for?” Ramirez recounted. “I want you to know that you are somebody worth fighting for. Mr. Cat told me that his strengths come from you.” For many, Camp Catanese becomes the “family” that remains when biological families are fractured by tragedies like the opioid crisis or mental health struggles. Cal Wylie shared a harrowing journey of finding his mother lifeless during his eighth-grade spring break, having already lost his father to an overdose. “I crawled out of my bed for the first time in days and headed to school,” Wylie said. “Luckily, the first person I saw that day was Mr. Cat. He gave me a hug and made me feel like everything was gonna be OK. Camp Cat became a home for me ... my reason to keep pushing.” Wylie, who later faced homelessness and the loss of the uncle who raised him to lung cancer, credits the camp’s community with saving his life. He is now a freshman at ASU, studying to become a teacher himself. Then there is Martin Quintanilla, who suffered the crushing trauma of losing his father to suicide in 2023. “I knew after everything happened that I needed a break from the world,” Quintanilla said. He reached out to Catanese, who immediately made space for him at camp. “I refuse to allow hardships to become an excuse for mediocrity... April 26, 2023, is a day I will never forget, but it is also a day that reminds me of the enduring power of the human spirit.” Former students like Martin Quintanilla ( above ), Cal Wylie ( right ) and Adrian Ramirez ( below ) illustrate the profound “Catanese Effect.” 32 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE 32 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE

Scaling the Hope Catanese is no longer just a teacher; he is a systems- thinker. Working with partners like Center for the Future of Arizona, he uses the Education Progress Meter to identify where the gaps are widest. “We’re using data and our previous failures to inform how we help the next group,” he said. When Saturday ACT prep sessions saw low attendance because students had to work to support their families, Catanese didn’t blame the kids — he and his team built an app. “When kids are choosing survival, it’s hard to prioritize something right in front of you. So we’re building a tool they can use in five-minute bursts.” Catanese’s vision for the next 10 years is “bigger and bolder.” He sees his work as a model for the 1.6 million kids in Arizona. “We envision Arizona as one of the examples in this country of what is possible,” he said. The Man Behind the Mission While the “Catanese Effect” is most visible in the classroom, the man himself is driven by energy that doesn’t stop when the school bell rings. Even with a schedule that would exhaust a career politician — teaching until 1 p.m. before pivoting to eight or nine hours at the Foundation office — Catanese remains a fixture in the local community. “I love being a great community member,” he said. This isn’t just lip service. Catanese has worked with the State Board of Education, coached soccer and spent years as a Sunday school teacher. When he isn’t analyzing the latest education data, he’s a dedicated uncle to his niece and nephew or traveling to recharge. But even his leisure time is often viewed through the lens of mentorship. For Catanese, there is no “off-duty” switch because his hobbies are an extension of his philosophy: that being present is the greatest gift an adult can give a child. He recalls a fourth-grade teacher, Miss Hall, who once helped him build a Japanese pagoda out of a refrigerator box just because he mentioned he liked them. “I just remember the feeling of someone saying yes to me,” he said. Catanese with the people who inspired his career. Influenced by his mother, a first-grade teacher, and his father, a school board member, Catanese carries forward the family philosophy that taking care of your mind allows your mind to take care of you. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE | 33