The Move from Public School to Catholic School: What Nobody Tells You Before You Start
Host: John Mihalyo | Guest: Tom Conroy, Principal, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School, Verona, NJ
Tom Conroy spent over 20 years as a public school principal before stepping into Catholic school leadership at Our Lady of the Lake in Verona, New Jersey. He will be the first to tell you that nothing fully prepared him for what he walked into — and that it has been the best chapter of his career.
In this episode, Tom and John get honest about what that transition really looks like. The surprises, the myths, and the mindset shifts that nobody hands you in a manual on day one. From the financial realities that catch almost every new Catholic school leader off guard, to leading with your faith out front for the first time, to figuring out why recruitment and advancement are so much more than you expected — this conversation covers a lot of ground.
Tom also talks about burnout, why asking for help is not a weakness, and what it actually feels like to be part of a Catholic school community after years of wondering what all the fuss was about.
If you are heading into your first year leading a Catholic school, just survived your first year, or are thinking about making the jump from public school — this one is for you.
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