St. Pius X High School welcomes in July 2022 new Head of School Mike Deely, a 28-year veteran educator and leader in Catholic schools. He brings an extensive background in Catholic education to St. Pius X, from student to teacher, campus minister and coach to principal and head of school.

Deely said he will spend his first year at St. Pius X hearing from students, teachers and alumni, learning what they love about SPX and what they need.

“For alumni, this is a good opportunity for them to give feedback on what they need for their kids and grandkids to attend and what makes them want to be connected,” Deely said in a May 2022 interview. “Real alumni ownership is important for the long term.”

His message to alumni: “It’s your school and we’re here to help give the next generation the same great experience that you had.”

“It’s their home,” Deely added. “If they want the opportunity to connect, it’s here. We want to see how they can help.”

The St. Pius X High School Inc. Board of Trustees conducted a nationwide search this spring to fill the new head of school position upon the retirement of principal Dr. Barbara Rothweiler at the end of June.

“The St. Pius X Community welcomes Mr. Mike Deely and looks forward to him leading students and staff in continuing the tradition of academic excellence and faith formation while nurturing each student’s gifts and talents,” the Board of Trustees said in a May 2022 statement.

Deely grew up in Catholic education. His parents were educated by Jesuits, the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in New York City. He and his six sisters spent all their school years in Catholic schools in San Diego, Calif. During college he coached high school football and taught CCD at his parish. He then entered the seminary to discern a vocation to the priesthood. When he realized the priesthood wasn’t his call, he headed home at Christmas break and learned University San Diego High School was looking for an assistant campus minister. He started in January 1994 and never looked back, teaching history, religion and coaching football there.

In 2001, he began his leadership career as principal of St. Charles Borromeo Academy, his own San Diego elementary school. In 2006, he took the reins at his high school alma mater, Cathedral Catholic High School, a school of 1,700 students in the Diocese of San Diego. He led Cathedral for nine years. In 2015, Deely became the Head of School at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School in Nashville, Tenn.

Under Deely’s leadership, Cathedral earned the title of Apple Distinguished School for innovation and initiated students’ dual enrollment with area colleges and universities. His school was one of the first in the country to use iPads within the curriculum. “Now it’s so common,” he said. “But then it was an innovation. With technology for me, it’s about whether it’s a good tool or not, a tool to allow you to go beyond what you’re already doing.”

At each of his schools he has initiated a director of innovation or a committee focused on innovation – staff members dedicated to looking at what’s next with technology, innovation and collaboration. 

“We look at what are the best steps to take to help kids but not burden teachers,” he said. “More than just technology, it’s about building collaboration with teachers and asking, how can we use technology to make us better at what we are doing with kids? I like tools that can help every type of learner. It has to be inclusive and we have to be ready to manage the challenges created by it.”

During his tenure in Nashville, he was responsible for expanding the school’s academic programs, including STEM programs and the creation of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, complete with a makerspace, a business center and a robotics arena. He also increased AP and Dual Enrollment courses and grew the Arts Department to include classes in dance, media, marketing, and graphic design. 

“We want to make sure Catholic schools are doing what other schools aren’t doing,” he said. “ We want strong academics and strong personal development. We compete by doing something different.”

In Nashville, that also meant an internship program tailored to students’ individual interests and included experiences in surgery, dentistry, business, real estate, fashion and more. 

“It was a great way to get parents and alumni involved,” he said. “And it was the best way to help students understand what a particular job is really like and go into college with that understanding.”

Deely’s wife, Susan, is also a career Catholic educator from California. They left California for Nashville for a more affordable place to raise their children, Clare, now an eighth grader, and Atticus, a sixth grader. However, they recently desired to move back to the West to be closer to family and for the mountains. Deely saw the position at St. Pius X as a good opportunity to make the move and make a difference. 

“St. Pius feels like the high school I went to,” Deely said. “My high school opened in 1957, just a year after St. Pius. It felt like a good fit.”

Deely also has led schools in transitioning to a president-principal model. “There is practical experience I can bring,” he said. “The structure here is good. Good teachers and coaches are in place. Now is the time to build up enrollment and get back on our feet after the (Archdiocese bankruptcy reorganization) settlement and Covid. We’re coming out energetic and with work to do.”

In January 2022, Archbishop John C. Wester announced the filing of Articles of Incorporation for a new governance corporation for the school – St. Pius X High School Inc. The core trustees are Darren Beckett, Very Rev. Michael Demkovich, Dr. Noreen Duffy Copeland, Very Rev. Monsignor Lambert Luna and Marijo Rymer. This preliminary board is diverse with lay members and clergy, men and women, alumni, parents and grandparents. Also incorporated was a new SPX Real Estate Corp. to own and maintain the St. Pius X campus for the benefit of St. Pius X High School. Those core trustees are Robert Arguelles, John Menicucci, Jerry Sais and Rev. Rick Zerwas. They have years of professional real estate and finance experience and include SPX alumni, parents, grandparents and a pastor.

“St. Pius has really invested alumni because it was a great experience for them – it’s theirs,” Deely said. “Now there are multigenerational families and a really strong history. I’m here to help support what is already in place – a  love for this school and this community. 

“God made kids exactly the way they’re supposed to be,” he said of his philosophy as an educator. “We’ve got to embrace that academically, athletically and artistically to develop the whole person.