English High School Today
English High’s Phys Ed Teacher & Baseball Coach Is Taking Boston Youth to the Next Level– Leads Team to 24 – 1 Record
Have you had the pleasure of meeting upbeat visionary Christian Ortiz, Physical Education teacher and Baseball Team Coach at English High, and community activist?
Born and raised in Boston and a product of the Boston Public Schools — O’Bryant Class of 2009 — Christian graduated Northeastern University with a BA in Entrepreneurship and an MA in Sports Leadership. He excelled in college baseball player and was an amateur boxer.
For eight years, he served as a BPS baseball coach — three as an assistant at West Roxbury Academy, three as Head Coach at Snowden International High School and four as Dean of Students, and two at English High. He led his teams to a total of five Boston City League Championships and was named 2023 BPS Coach of the Year, and 2023 Boston Globe D4 All Scholastics Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 24 – 1 record, and D4 Playoffs which they lost in the Semifinals.
In 2014, Christian founded the non-profit Next Level Boston Sports which serves inner-city student-athletes, focusing on providing collegiate exposure, plus on-and-off the field development of each player’s skills while creating a gateway towards a college education.
We recently caught up with Christian for a few questions:
EHSA: What advice do you give high school students about ‘the secrets to success’? What are yours? What daily activities should they focus on?
Christian: Stay focused, stay disciplined, stay consistent. Have a plan and accomplish small daily/weekly goals that will get you towards your larger goal. Also reach out and speak with people who are in the position you want to be in one day, and hear what they have to say about approaching your goal.
EHSA: How do you inspire the students you interact with? Are there a few examples of kids that you mentored that have been successful since graduating high school?
Christian: Empowering and encouraging them is what I feel are great motivators for students who know that there’s someone who has been in their path, believes in them and is cheering for them. Providing them words of affirmation and motivation in times where they seem to be struggling and helping them build on having an unbeatable mindset.
EHSA: Describe how you got the idea for Next Level Boston Sports — and how kids can participate.
Christian: During undergrad, my little brother was part of a travel ball program that was more of a disservice to his development and costing my parents lots of money. I took what I learned as a college athlete from my coaches, my trainers and created a program that would not only help my brother and family but others in the community who had the same passion for the sport and dreams of playing at the next level.
EHSA: Your thoughts on the future for Boston and its youth?
Christian: The City of Boston is a very special place with so much talent and gifted young children. It means so much to me to try and help those who look like me define their own success and help them achieve it. Baseball and boxing kept me from getting distracted. After spending countless hours with our youth, I know we share a lot in common. I wish the city could support more youth sports. These kids are the leaders of tomorrow.
English High School’s 2023 Baseball Team — Reaching the Final Four!
