You may have already heard that for the 2015-2016 school year, Principal Mr. Mike Deely will not be returning to Cathedral Catholic High School. Instead, Mr. Deely will serve as the Headmaster at Pope John Paul II High School, in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee.

After many productive years spent at CCHS, Mr. Deely was “intrigued” by a job offer presented by a job search company for Catholic schools. He decided to take the offer after delving further into the mission of Pope John Paul II High School, and conversing with his wife over the expenses of raising a family in San Diego. “I am really excited about what they’re trying to do at this new school, and I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot of what I’ve wanted to do at Cathedral. At the same time, my wife and I have been considering this because it’s very expensive to raise a family in San Diego,” said Mr. Deely. “It’s a good career thing, but a great family thing.”

“Out of a whim,” Mr. Deely sent in an application to the director of the job search company for Catholic schools, which began the process of assuming his role of Headmaster in Tennessee. From that point on, Mr. Deely felt the support of his family who knew the job opportunity would suit their needs. After a Skype interview with the administration of Pope John Paul II High School, Mr. Deely ventured out to Hendersonville, Tennessee with his wife. “It felt like going to Cathedral in Tennessee with the same beautiful campus and bright kids,” said Mr. Deely.

After the current 2014-2015 school year wraps up, Mr. Deely will move to Tennessee with his family before starting his new job in July. Mr. Deely’s children, ages three and six, will visit their future town before they move in preparation for their new home and new schools. Bishop Choby has been assisting Mr. Deely along with the parents and leadership of the new school to make him feel welcome in his future community.

His departure is bittersweet, but Mr. Deely looks forward to his new adventure in Tennessee. “I look forward to having the four seasons, experiencing something different, and whatever God puts before me,” he said. “I can always come back, which is not the problem, since Southwest has direct flights to and from Nashville every day.”

As Mr. Deely will miss his community at CCHS and friends and family in San Diego, the CCHS community will miss his presence as well. “He always has the best interest of our students at heart. He works long hours, tries to attend as many athletic games as possible, and is very proud of our students’ accomplishments. When he tells the students how much he cares about them, it comes from deep within his heart,” said Mr. Deely’s secretary, Mrs. Tina Mendes, who has worked by his side for several years.

While he served as Cathedral’s principal over the years, Mrs. Mendes explained how Mr. Deely’s highlights have enhanced our school here at Cathedral. “Mr. Deely brought the iPads to our school, which led to Cathedral becoming a 1-1 Apple Distinguished School and he established a working relationship with Fr. Adolfo Argentina to develop a student exchange program, allowing Argentinian students to attend Cathedral, and CCHS students to attend school in Argentina. Also, Mr. Deely led the WCEA/WASC groups through our recent six-year school accreditation process,” Mrs. Mendes said.

Mr. Deely’s lasting impression on Cathedral will not dissipate even after the administration chooses a new principal for CCHS, and also after Mr. Deely has assumed his new job in Tennessee. Mr. Deely leaves his “thank you” for the students and families associated with Cathedral who have given more to him than he feels he has given to the community; yet, our community knows Mr. Deely has colored our red and gold spirits much brighter over the years.