An Interview with Tom Lengel P’12

After 17 years of service to the Holy Child School at Rosemont community, including 10 years as head of school, Tom Lengel P’12 sat down for an interview to reflect on his time as the leader of our school and community. Among his reflections here and, more importantly, his actions during his tenure, it is clear that our community has meant a great deal to him and that our identity as a Holy Child school guided his approach to education and leadership. In an interview published in “Cachet” 10 years ago when he began his term as head of school, Tom was asked, “How would you like to be remembered?” His answer rings true to the legacy he created: “As somebody who cared and did his best, living by setting a good example.”

What will you remember most about Holy Child School at Rosemont?

I will remember the growth and development of many things: our children, the faculty and staff, the physical campus, and myself as a leader. I think fondly about the children who have grown up here from the time they enrolled as nursery students (what we now call Young Falcons and Falcons) to their graduation day when, as young men and women in eighth grade, they received their diplomas from me — that’s the growth that I find so rewarding to witness. It has also been gratifying to welcome young men and women into our community as educators and see them grow and develop into faculty leaders as well as mothers and fathers in their own right. I have reflected on how our physical campus has grown immensely, beginning with Sister Mary Broderick, SHCJ, who had the great vision to lead the academic center expansion. Sr. Mary’s vision also gave us the opportunity to grow and develop the depth and breadth of our academic program, and our most recent campus expansion project has afforded us so many more resources to continue to “Nurture Excellence in this Joyful Catholic Community.”

You have been part of this school community for 17 years; what does community mean to you?

Community means everything; it’s our special sauce. I’ve said many times that there are a lot of great schools in our area, but it’s the palpable sense of community here that makes us stand out, along with our Holy Child identity. I love hearing from our many parents who are alumni and who say that while the school’s physical appearance has changed in significant ways, the sense of belonging and community still feels the same — that is the ultimate compliment. I talk about our community when interviewing new faculty and staff, and I love it when they stop by my office a few months into the job and say, “You talked about community when I interviewed, but I really feel it in a way that I haven’t felt at other schools where I’ve worked.” Our sense of community is something that we are very intentional about, and we do it well.

Reflecting on our school traditions, where do you feel the sense of community is most palpable?

So many traditions come to mind: our Christmas Concert, the Spring Play, Sledding Day, Honors Convocation, Homecoming, and Fall Festival. Honors Convocation is a celebration designed for the student community, and at this event the Grade 8 students are honored in front of their peers as leaders and soon-to-be graduates. It is one of the special ways in which we as a community honor the Grade 8 students each year, along with the Grade 8 prayer service and graduation. In addition, you can really sense our community at Homecoming and Fall Festival. The celebrations during that weekend begin with our older children competing fiercely in field hockey and football on Gaffney Family Field, and continue with a fun afternoon during which the younger and older children come together with their families on Algeo Field for face painting, dancing, and games. At Fall Festival this past year, I was talking with a parent on Algeo Field, looking out over the Fitzgerald Performing Arts and Athletic Center and Gaffney Family Field. The parent asked me, “Aren’t you proud of this?” I responded, “Yes, I am proud of that.” Then I turned around to look at all the children running around and playing together at the festival, and I said, “I am even more proud of this.”

1. Even as head of school, Mr. Lengel P’12 enjoyed the tradition of Sledding Day with our students!

2. Reading a book to each grade in Early Childhood was an important annual tradition.

How has being a leader of a Holy Child school influenced your faith and your life?

Sister Eileen McDevitt, SHCJ, the director of the Holy Child Network of Schools, has said to the heads of schools in our network that more and more, Holy Child schools are families’ parishes. As head of school, I felt the responsibility as the spiritual leader of our community to make sure that we emphasized the spiritual education and development of children. I cherished our prayer services, and in my welcoming remarks I sought to educate the children about the history and meaning behind our Catholic traditions and the signs and symbols of our faith. It was an important responsibility that I took seriously, and I have always prayed for the strength, wisdom, and courage to be a strong and effective leader.

Looking back on your 17 years serving Holy Child School at Rosemont, what are you most proud of?

Of all the ways that the school has grown and developed during my time as head of school, I am proud of three things in particular: our school’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the almost 100% increase in students and families of color who have enrolled here since 2013 and how welcomed and included they are in our community, and the creation of our affinity group for single mothers, which provides them with a space to meet and support one another.

Whatever I have achieved is due in great measure to the work of so many others as well. I want to thank the faculty, staff, and Holy Child families, with special thanks to the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team. During my time as head of school, I have worked with four chairs of the Board: Gordon Cooney ’73 P’17, Bob Shields P’83’86’89’93 GP’19’19’21, Arnie Schneider P’10’12’15, and Judi Taylor P’14’16. All of them have been incredible friends, thought partners, and leaders, and I have learned a lot from each of them. The Senior Leadership Team deserves a ton of credit as well; anything I have achieved is because of them, and I could not have succeeded without the current and former members of the school’s administration.