Rex Malixi serves as the Director of Liturgy, Religion Coordinator, and Pre-K4 through Fourth Grade Religion Teacher. Rex holds a B.S. in Sociology from Texas A&M University. He has worked in religious formation of youth since 2003 and has taught reading, math, writing, social studies, and technology, in addition to Religion. Rex loves to help students strengthen their relationship with God and create a richer prayer life rooted in the traditions of the Sacred Heart. He is a native Houstonian.

Q: Which of the five Sacred Heart Goals inspires you the most?

A: I love Goal III: Social awareness that impels to action because I love to do service. Dating back to when I was in high school, we would go on mission trips and Catholic heart work camps/retreats and go volunteer places. That's always just taken root deep in my heart and I've always had a love for doing service for others.

Q: What is your favorite Regis school event or tradition?

A: My favorite Regis school tradition would have to be the procession of flowers to Mater before the Feast of Mater Admirabilis. It's the first time that Pre-K3 students get to go to Mass with their Big Brothers, and the theme of the older boys guiding and mentoring the younger boys just has a special place in my heart—especially this year with my son being in Pre-K3 and seeing him participate in that tradition just means a lot to me.

Q: If you were given a superlative by the boys here at Regis, what would it be?

A: I try to make my classes as fun and engaging as I can. I use a lot of humor, acting out, and appropriate silliness. I’d like to think I bring a lot of joy to my classes. The boys say I'm the best religion teacher they've ever had—though for many of them, I'm the only religion teacher they've ever had. I'll take it, but my goal is simply for them to have fun while learning and growing in their faith. I'm glad they're having a good time, and I love seeing their smiles and hearing their laughs while they learn. So I guess my superlative would be “Best Religion Teacher Ever.”

Q: What was the best advice you ever received?

A: “I don't care how big of a mess you make, as long as in the end you get it right.” I was working on a really hard math problem in high school, and my dad was helping me. I kept erasing, starting over, using new sheets of paper...there were pencil shavings and scraps everywhere. That’s when he told me that line, and it stuck. It applies not just to math, but to life. We make mistakes, we learn from them, and we try to become better. Hopefully, in the end, we can get it right. This translates to Regis, too, because we try to provide a safe place for the boys to make mistakes and build confidence. When they leave here and move on, we know they will “get it right” as well.

Q: What have you learned from your students?

A: I’ve learned not to take every moment too seriously, especially with the little ones. You just have to go with it sometimes. And even more this year, now that I'm teaching Pre-K4. They always want to go to the chapel and want me to do the lessons and read them stories there. So I think it's reminded me to find my own time for the chapel. If they always want to be there and spend time there, maybe I should be going more too; working on my own prayer life, taking time to listen for answers, and finding some peace with whatever I’m going through.

Q: What would students be surprised to find out about you?

A: A few years ago (in high school…ha!), I was sitting on the back of my friend's Toyota Corolla, and for as fast as a used Toyota Corolla would go, he floored it while I was sitting on the back of the car. I looked down, and I thought to myself, if I start running in the air and moving my legs fast enough when I let go, I will just be running next to the car. It did not happen that way… I hydroplaned and skid on the street for, I don't know, a few feet, and then came inches away from a curb, probably smashing my head, and I had scars all over my face. 

Q: If you were not a teacher, what would you be?

A: If I didn't get into teaching, youth ministry, and working with kids, I'd want to be in advertising making up fun and funny commercials and jingles.

Q: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: It's easy. Pizza—thin crust, deep dish, Detroit style, Chicago deep dish. I am not bias. It can be cafeteria pizza, Little Caesars, meat lovers, Pizza Hut, or pan pizza; they are all good.