|
Dear Eastside Catholic Community,
It is with great enthusiasm and deep gratitude that I write to share the successful conclusion of our national search for the next President of Eastside Catholic School. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Dougherty as our next President.
Michael will succeed Gil Picciotto, whose leadership has left a lasting and meaningful impact on our school community. This search, which began in October 2025, was conducted with great care, intentionality and a steadfast commitment to the mission of Eastside Catholic.
The Search Committee undertook a thorough and comprehensive process to discern the leader best suited to advance our Catholic mission and lead our school into its next chapter.
Mr. Dougherty currently serves as President of Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, where he has led significant institutional growth and transformation. During his tenure, he has strengthened the school’s Catholic identity and cultivated a strong, mission-aligned culture among faculty, students, and alumni. He has elevated the school’s reputation for academic excellence and deepened engagement across its community, particularly through expanded alumni and parent relationships. At the same time, he has advanced the school’s financial sustainability by increasing annual giving, strengthening advancement operations, and growing the endowment from $10.7 million to $26 million. He also launched and led a major capital campaign exceeding $26 million and implemented key governance and financial systems to support long-term success.
He holds a Master of Arts in Theology from the Graduate Theological Union, a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan and 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 and staff, families and alumni to build on that foundation in ways that 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.”
You can read Michael Dougherty’s letter to the Eastside Catholic community here.
Throughout the search process, Michael distinguished himself as a mission-driven, strategic, and relational leader with a clear vision for Catholic education in today’s world. His ability to integrate vision with disciplined execution, strengthen communities, and inspire generosity makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead Eastside Catholic forward.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the members of the Search Committee for their dedication, prayerful discernment and unwavering commitment to the mission of Eastside Catholic throughout this process:
Tom Shemanski, Search Committee Co-Chair
Scott Leist, Search Committee Co-Chair
Joe Sabey '99
Sr. Susanne Hartung
Jason Hizer
Michele Rasmussen
Eric Johnson
Alison Richards
Josh Marti '92
Their thoughtful engagement and stewardship of this important responsibility have been instrumental in bringing us to this moment.
We are confident that Michael Dougherty is the right leader at the right time for Eastside Catholic. In the months ahead, we look forward to welcoming him and his family to our community and supporting a smooth and successful transition. He will join Eastside Catholic in November 2026.
Please join me in thanking Gil Picciotto for his dedicated service and in offering a warm Eastside Catholic welcome to Michael Dougherty. I ask that you continue to keep our school, our leadership and this transition in your prayers.
Sincerely,
John Luger Jr. '91
Board of Trustees Chair
Eastside Catholic School
|
