Page 9 - Crusader-Chronicles_Fall2016_Neat

Tom with his
daughter,
Rachel, a
freshman at
CMH this year.

DR. THOMAS NOONAN

Catholic Memorial Principal

Dr. Thomas Noonan, the new principal of Catholic “This is not change for the sake of change, or

Memorial High School, already knew a lot about using technology for the sake of using technology,”

the school before his arrival. After all, he spent 13 says Tom, who already is beginning to look toward

years as a teacher and assistant principal at the school’s next level of strategic planning to

Marquette University High School—one of CMH’s build on the Memorial Propel and Innovation Wing

most prestigious academic and athletic rivals. initiatives.

“I was familiar with CMH, yes,” laughs Tom, who Additionally, this academic year is an accreditation

succeeds former Catholic Memorial principal Bob year for Catholic Memorial, and Tom says the

Hall. “All the indicators pointed to this being a review firm assigned to CMH will help chart the

very strong Catholic community.” school’s direction for the future. Don’t expect a

A product of the public school system and a 1987 completely new set of initiatives, though. The plan
graduate of Nathan Hale High School in West is to keep building on the technology, laboratory
Allis, Tom brings to CMH almost 20 years of and collaborative learning processes already in
education experience in the Archdiocese of place. “That’s a validation of what the planning
Milwaukee following a one-year stint working at a committee, the faculty and other staff members
public school in Neenah. In addition to Marquette have done,” Tom says.

High, his resume includes principal roles at St. Additionally, in this Jubilee Year of Mercy declared

Catherine’s High School in Racine and St. Anthony by Pope Francis, Tom wants to encourage CMH’s

High School in Milwaukee. Tom also holds multiple 665 students to grow in service to the Waukesha

degrees from Marquette University. County community—especially the poor and

“Now I can’t imagine not being in Catholic marginalized—by helping them recognize and
education,” he says. acknowledge how blessed they are to be part of
the Catholic Memorial family.

“To bring together faith and scholarship “This Year of Mercy is ours,” he says. “And we
need to share that.”
is very important to me.”
Tom is a parishoner at St. Charles in Hartland

The educational innovation happening at CMH where he lives with his wife, Claudia and two
daughters, Sarah and Rachel. Tom has the unique
attracted Tom to his new job, particularly the perspective of being the principal of CMH, but
also a current parent, because Rachel is a freshman
Innovation Wing and Memorial Propel, a CMH- and a member of the Class of 2020.
trademarked approach to creative thinking,

problem solving, and based on real-world business

models.

View Dr. Noonan’s Welcome Message
on the CMH YouTube Channel.

9