Rocha, the head of school, was a founding staff member of the independent Catholic liberal arts boys' school Western Academy in Houston, Texas. He served the school as development director and as a member of its administrative council.
The school will run a student leadership trip to Auxier, Ky. Students there will work with Hand in Hand ministries, an immersion experience intended to teach them about real world needs and how to serve with compassion.
"This will provide a Catholic world view for those students in understanding social justice issues and the drug epidemic that plagues this part of the country," said Rocha. "For teenagers it is easier to help others, but we will challenge them to come back and truly love those around them in small actions, as well."
He also noted Ozark Catholic Academy's advisory program, which is one-on-one mentoring between a faculty member and a student.
"Building this relationship will help build stronger relationships among staff and students," he said. "We believe strong relationships both with faculty and other students will help build a strong culture for the school. We also want students to continue to build relationships at home."
Rocha said the push to launch the school began four-and-a-half years ago through the work of two sisters, Ashley Menendez and Adriana Stacy. Community supporters worked about 20,000 volunteer hours to launch the school.
Norma Ascenscio of Rogers, Ark., the mother of a new student, told the Arkansas Catholic her daughter went to a Catholic elementary school, adding, "I want her to be sure of her faith."
"In today's world, so many things occupy first place in their lives, but I want my daughter to be a person who loves God and is loved by God," Ascenscio said.
Mark Breden of Fayetteville, a retired Procter and Gamble employee who is acting president of the school's board of governors, said the new school should help companies recruiting families to move to the area. He said the school would emphasize building wisdom and character through Catholic education.
While the school is not operated by a parish, religious order or diocese, its religious curriculum must be approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and it must follow the directives of the local bishop, Anthony Taylor of Little Rock.