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It is with great pleasure I welcome you to James Irwin Charter High School. We have an incredible faculty and staff whose goal is to partner with you to deliver the best college prep education in Colorado Springs. We are consistently selected as one of the top high schools in the nation according to reviews by publications like Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and The Washington Post. We received the John Irwin Schools of Excellence award for seven of the past nine years it was conferred. This high honor was awarded to schools in the top 8% of the state based on overall academic achievement and is now awarded to schools that exceed expectations for academic achievement and student growth. Be assured, we are not resting on these accolades, but continuing to strive for ways to improve our programs in order to best serve each student.
Whether you already attend JICHS or are exploring enrollment, I commend you for your consideration of James Irwin Charter High School. Our commitment to character development combined with our rigorous academic program continues to prepare students for success, not only in college, but for life. Our academic, athletic, and extra-curricular programs are seeking students who are committed to excellence.
On behalf of the board, administration, faculty and staff, I hope you enjoy the exciting James Irwin experience and may you be blessed with a successful school year!
Alex Marquez has been in the education field since 1990 and has worked as principal at JICHS since the summer of 2008. In addition to administration, Mr. Marquez teaches Character & Ethics, a required course for all JICHS students. He received an Associate of Arts degree from Miami-Dade Community College in 1987, a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University in 1990, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2003. Mr. Marquez holds Colorado professional licenses in education for teaching and school administration. Prior to being the principal at James Irwin Charter High School, Mr. Marquez's career included one year as an elementary music teacher, seven years as a middle and high school Director of Bands, and seven and a half years as a school principal. His career also includes stints as a county manager for crisis counselors in Project HOPE, a bank trainer, and editor of a small newspaper.
Mr. Marquez met his wife, Ruthie, in 1985 and they have been happily married since 1990. Currently, they are busy raising four young boys. While in Florida, Mr. Marquez was involved in several community theater productions and a brass quintet. He also co-wrote a television sitcom pilot that placed in the semi-finals of a script competition. Mr. Marquez continues to develop other projects on his own and with his writing partner. He hopes one day to be able to contribute scripts and books that are clean, yet meaningful and inspiring.
While enjoying being the principal of JICHS, Mr. Marquez also loves dating his wife, spending time with his children, writing, playing piano, traveling, and serving as a Bible teacher and lay counselor. After living in Florida his entire life, Mr. Marquez and his family moved to Colorado Springs in the summer of 2006. He states, "We absolutely love Colorado! James Irwin is an incredible school where the staff and parents team up to do what's best for the students. The mission of JICHS, to develop student character and provide an academically rigorous program, is lived out each day in a real way. I'm so excited to be part of one of the top schools in Colorado and feel incredibly blessed to serve alongside the best and finest faculty and staff anywhere."
