During the extensive search for a new school president, Rev. Ryan Hiaeshutter, pastoral administrator of St. Thomas Aquinas, felt a sense of peace when he saw Lisa Long’s resume.
“I felt a great sense of joy, and then excitement, in her going through the application process to see how she would interact with this community, and I think she did incredibly well,” Hiaeshutter said.
He learned about Long’s passion for her faith and the school when he encountered her at Christ the King after she lit a candle for prayer.
Long views her role in Catholic education as a vocation. As principal of Christ the King Catholic School (CKS), she has tried to fulfill the ministry of the church by meeting the needs of the community and helping students create a deeper relationship with God.
Her office sits across from her old second-grade classroom, where she once taught at CKS. Second grade is a special year for Long because students learn more about themselves through the two sacraments.
“The school is the largest ministry of the church,” she said. “We want to make sure that we’re always actively looking for ways to improve while maintaining the culture and character of the community.”
Her love of curriculum design motivated Long to become CKS’ director of curriculum. Next, she moved to the student affairs side as assistant principal. She later became CKS’ principal.
Long began considering a move to St. Thomas Aquinas after its current president, Patrick Magee, told her of his decision to retire. She spent time reflecting and praying about the change because of her deep connection to CKS. The decision did not feel certain until she visited the St. Thomas Aquinas campuses in the final phase of the interview process.
Long felt the Holy Spirit making it clear that this was the right fit.
“It just really felt like the Holy Spirit was calling me to a new community where I can contribute to their mission in a way that brings a new perspective,” she said.
While reflecting on the position, Long felt excitement about St. Thomas Aquinas. She expressed a desire to build a partnership between the parish and school.
As president, Long hopes to improve the largest K-8 school in Texas through a fundraising campaign to rebuild the St. Dominic building on the upper school campus so it can house more students.
Long is already comfortable with large capital projects, having assisted in a $21 million capital campaign at CKS which funded a 25,000-square-foot building slated for completion in 2027.
Long said she feels blessed by her involvement in the process at CKS. It was a phenomenal experience to see the campaign from start to finish.
CKS president Patrick O’Sullivan said Long was involved in the project from its early stages, meeting with certain people who invested in the campaign. Long knew many of them through her service to the community.
Although it is sad to see Long leave, O’Sullivan said he is excited for the hope and joy that will come to the St. Thomas Aquinas community.
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