Catholic Memorial High School has named Thomas Noonan as its new principal.
Noonan, whose hiring was formally announced Monday, June 6, takes the position previously held by Robert Hall, who served as CMH principal for the past seven years and was recently named the executive director for the Elmbrook School District's Innovation Collaboratory, an entrepreneurial program aimed at juniors and seniors.
Hall will continue to coach football at Catholic Memorial.
Noonan was chosen based on his administrative and innovative teaching experience, as well his 17 years serving Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He was principal at St. Catherine's High School in Racine from 2012-2015, and most recently he was at St. Anthony High School in Milwaukee.
'Catholic Memorial is thrilled to have Dr. Noonan as the next principal and bring his faith, experience and expertise to help continue our successes and with his vision and inspiration to attain new successes in the future,' said the Rev. Paul Hartmann, CMH's president.
School officials noted that Noonan has a long history in education. Before his time at St. Catherine's, , he was a teacher and assistant principal at Marquette University High School. During his 13 years there, he spent time teaching social studies and coaching debate and mock trial.
He has had extensive experience with school accreditation, strategic planning, curriculum development, instructional technology integration and developing student support programs.
'It's very exciting to have a new principal with so much experience in Catholic schools, so he knows those traditions, it's a great fit for Catholic Memorial,' said Krissy Hartung, CMH communications coordinator.
For his part, Noonan appreciates how well he fits into CMH's system of learning.
'I am honored to be chosen to serve at Catholic Memorial High School's next principal,' Noonan said in a prepared statement. 'My professional experience in Catholic education as both a teacher and administrator has prepared me well for the culture of innovative learning that is a hallmark of the school.'
'It is a school of tremendous reputation, with students who are very academically motivated,' Noonan said in a subsequent interview.
Noonan holds an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a master's degree in history from Marquette University. He received a James Madison Memorial Foundation's Fellowship for Graduate Studies Award in 2000 and earned his Ph.D. in educational policy and leadership from Marquette University in January of 2012. He has also taught classes as an adjunct instructor at both Marquette University and Carthage College in Kenosha.
'I see Catholic education as vocation, akin to how a pastor approaches the ministry of a parish,' Noonan said, 'You approach it the same way, this is vocational work meant to prepare students' gifts and talents.'