Dear Jesuit High School Community,
At the end of the 2021-22 school year, Paul Hogan will step down as Principal of Jesuit High School. We are deeply grateful for Mr. Hogan's 27 years of dedicated service to Jesuit and the lasting impact of his contributions to our school, our students, and our future.
Earlier today, Mr. Hogan shared these words, in part, with our faculty and staff about his decision: "As I begin my 35th year as an educator, 25th as an administrator at Jesuit and 10th as Principal, the time is right for this transition. I have come to my decision with deep peace and excitement about what lies ahead for me, and for Jesuit. The Spirit has spoken...What an honor it has been to accompany you as our students pursue knowledge, grow in confidence, have fun, and experience the faith, hope and love that this school showers on them."
Inspired by his Jesuit educators at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL, Mr. Hogan decided in college that he wanted to be a teacher. After graduating from Williams College and earning his Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Washington, Mr. Hogan taught and coached at St. George's School in Spokane followed by five years at Fairfield Prep, a Jesuit high school, in Connecticut.
Mr. Hogan returned to the Northwest in 1994 when he arrived at Jesuit as an English and Journalism teacher. In 1997, he assumed the role of Academic Vice Principal, which he held for the next 15 years. Mr. Hogan was appointed Jesuit's 11th Principal in July 2012.
During his long tenure at Jesuit, Mr. Hogan was instrumental in initiating dual credit courses, starting the school's mock trial program, and fostering the growth of Brown Bags and Coffeehouse.
Mr. Hogan helped lead the school's transition to a 1:1 computing school in 2013-14, keeping Jesuit on the leading edge of innovative education. Under his leadership, the school's professional development program has grown and the Vice Principal administrative team effectively restructured.
Mr. Hogan's skills in relationship building were integral in developing the school's Diversity Program and cultivating ties with St. Andrew Nativity School, a Jesuit school in Northeast Portland, since its founding 20 years ago. He has also built strong relationships with principals at other Catholic and Metro League high schools.
One of the causes near to Mr. Hogan's heart, inspired by Jesuit students and family members with cancer, is the Children's Cancer Association (CCA) united "Walk of Joy," now in its 22nd year with nearly $1 million raised among the Portland area's six Catholic high schools.
Despite his responsibilities as an administrator, Mr. Hogan has continued teaching various classes, most recently as a Broadcast Journalism teacher two years ago and as an English teacher this year.
"My heart has always been with all of our students, especially those who struggle for any reason," says Mr. Hogan. Under Mr. Hogan's leadership, Jesuit's learning support program now has two full-time professionals. Additionally, Jesuit's longtime partnership with Edison High School, a separate high school on Jesuit's campus dedicated to serving students with learning differences, has significantly strengthened. Mr. Hogan served on Edison High School's Board from 1997-2003 and his wife, Jennifer, has been Edison's dynamic Development Director for the past 14 years.
These past 19 months, Mr. Hogan has helped Jesuit's faculty and staff successfully and courageously navigate the ongoing challenges of COVID. "Our school's bold, creative, and innovative moves have allowed us to keep our students learning and growing as people for others, despite the massive disruption and challenge of the pandemic," says Mr. Hogan.
Reflecting on the future, Mr. Hogan states: "My hopes for Jesuit are that we continue to be as faithful to our Catholic, Jesuit mission and continue to find ways to do not only an exemplary job in the classroom, fields and stage, but on the existential issues to which the Church is calling us to: caring for Creation, walking with the marginalized, and teaching our students to think critically in an age of increasing misinformation."
The entire Jesuit High School community expresses immense gratitude to Paul Hogan for his 27 years of service to our school and our students. His commitment to excellence in every segment of our school community, his care and cura personalis for our students, faculty and staff, and his devotion to the mission of Jesuit High School, all for the greater glory of God, have been truly exceptional. We wish Mr. Hogan and his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Conor '12 and Molly '15, the very best and hold them in our prayers and hearts during their journey ahead.
We will be undertaking a national search this fall for our next principal. Erika Tuenge, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, and Roger Stewart, Director of Human Resources, will be leading that process. We will provide more information as that process gets underway in the weeks ahead; we expect it to be completed in the spring of 2022. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to me.
Peace. Gratitude. AMDG.
Thomas D. Arndorfer
President