It is with great excitement that the Eastside Catholic Board of Trustees announces the appointment of Michael Dougherty as the school’s next President, effective Fall 2026.

Board Chair John Luger Jr. ‘91 shared, “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the Search Committee and the entire Eastside Catholic community, we are thrilled to welcome Michael Dougherty and his family to Eastside Catholic. Michael is an accomplished and mission-driven leader in Catholic education, with a deep commitment to forming young people for lives of faith, purpose and service. His energy, clarity of vision and proven leadership make him exceptionally well-suited to lead Eastside Catholic into its next chapter.”

Mr. Dougherty currently serves as President of Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington, where he has led significant institutional growth and transformation. During his tenure, he strengthened the school’s Catholic identity, cultivated a strong mission-aligned culture among faculty, students and alumni, elevated the school’s reputation for academic excellence and deepened engagement across the community, particularly among alumni and parents. At the same time, he has advanced the school’s financial sustainability by increasing annual giving, strengthening advancement operations and supporting significant endowment growth. In addition, he launched and led a major capital campaign exceeding $26 million and implemented key governance and financial systems to support long-term success.

Prior to his time at Gonzaga Prep, Mr. Dougherty served as President of Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart in Chicago, where he led a significant turnaround—doubling enrollment, strengthening academic rigor through the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and significantly increasing philanthropic support. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to Catholic identity, academic excellence and strategic, mission-centered growth.

He holds a Master of Arts in Theology from the Graduate Theological Union and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan. His academic formation, combined with his extensive leadership experience in Catholic schools, reflects a lifelong commitment to Catholic education and a thoughtful, mission-driven approach to leading complex educational communities.

Mr. Dougherty shared, “Eastside Catholic stands at a moment of real opportunity, grounded in a strong mission and a vibrant community. I am honored to be entrusted with this responsibility and look forward to partnering with the Board, faculty, staff, families and alumni to build on that foundation in ways that will serve students well into the future. My family and I look forward to becoming part of this community and contributing to its mission and the formation of its students.”

The search for Eastside Catholic’s next President began in October 2025 and was conducted in partnership with Partners in Mission Search Solutions. The Board extends its deep gratitude to the Search Committee for its thoughtful, prayerful and diligent work throughout the comprehensive national search.

Eastside Catholic School looks forward to welcoming Michael Dougherty to the community in Fall 2026 and to the continued advancement of its mission to form students for leadership, service and lifelong learning grounded in the Catholic faith.

The Board also expresses sincere gratitude to outgoing President Gil Picciotto for his dedicated service and lasting contributions to Eastside Catholic School and wishes both leaders continued success and God’s blessings as they begin their next chapters.