Sonoman to lead Petaluma’s St. Vincent schools

Tom Coughlan has been named the first president of the Catholic elementary and high schools in Petaluma|

Fun fact about Tom Coughlan

Coughlan has dual U.S/Irish citizenship and he competed on the Irish National Water Polo Team from 2002 to 2005.

Sonoma resident Tom Coughlan, 37, has been named the first president of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Schools of Petaluma. Coughlan will oversee both the parish elementary and high school.

Father Gary Lombardi of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church made the announcement on May 23, and the appointment is effective immediately.

Lombardi said that Coughlan’s selection was made after a “robust” search conducted by a committee composed of school, parish and community members, and that the process included screening a dozen applicants, multiple interviews, candidate site visits and community forums.

Prior to this appointment, Coughlan served as director of development at De Marillac Academy, a tuition-free Catholic school for low-income families in San Francisco. He also formerly served as director of development and alumni relations, as a department chair and as a teacher and coach at Justin-Siena High School of Napa, and as a member of the school’s board of directors. He began his career as a teacher and coach in several Bay Area Catholic Schools.

Coughlan is completing his master’s degree in Catholic educational leadership from the University of San Francisco. He holds a master’s in education and teaching credentials from St. Mary’s College of California and a bachelor’s degree from U.C. Santa Barbara.

Coughlan has lived in Sonoma since 2009 with his wife, Jenna, and his four children, Jackson, 11, Quinn, 6, Ronan, 4, and Noella, 2 months. They are parishioners of St. Francis Solano in Sonoma where Jackson and Quinn attend school.

In announcing the appointment, Father Gary Lombardi said, “We are confident Mr. Coughlan’s leadership will build upon St. Vincent de Paul Catholics Schools’ strong reputation of academic excellence, its multigenerational commitment to Catholic education and robust community spirit. He comes to us at an exciting time, ready to lead our Catholic schools through transformational and enduring change as they begin their second century of educating young men and women in southern Sonoma County.”

Rafael Velez, chairperson for the Board of Regents: “We have carefully deliberated and unanimously decided he is the person to achieve the mission of our schools.”

As to Coughlan?

“I am thrilled and privileged to be first President of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Schools,” said Coughlan. “It is truly an honor to be assuming the responsibility for not only one, but two great schools with such rich history and tradition in Sonoma and Marin Counties. I am confident that the St. Vincent de Paul community and its schools have a very bright future.”

St. Vincent de Paul High School is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Email Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

Fun fact about Tom Coughlan

Coughlan has dual U.S/Irish citizenship and he competed on the Irish National Water Polo Team from 2002 to 2005.

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