Congratulations, Doctor Patrick Holley!
And he THOUGHT he had the last word… Little does he know!
Have you ever seen the movie Airplane? Do you know the scene during a hospital sequence where a line of doctors keep greeting and nodding at one another in an increasingly absurd fashion that sounded like this?! …
“Doctor.”
“Doctor.”
“Doctor.”
“Doctor.”
They continue this in a nodding and deadpan fashion. It’s dumbly hysterical, and yet it runs through my head these days as I walk through the halls of St. Margaret’s.
Why??! You ask.
Our ‘Big Principal’, Mister Patrick Holley, has just earned his wings – his EdD – his Doctorate in Educational Leadership! He earns this new title just as he continues his call forward to his next assignment in Catholic Leadership at St. Ambrose on the Hill.
Congratulations, Doctor Patrick Holley!
For the last two years, I’ve had the privilege of working side by side with Dr. Holley to live and expand the mission of Catholic Education and formation to our teachers, students, and families here at St. Margaret of Scotland. Dr. Holley has been a student of Catholic education his entire life, from the time he was a wee little guy at 2-1/2 years old attending PreSchool at Sacred Heart Villa. Can you even imagine Pat as a wee little guy?! I simply cannot. He’s too big for that in so many ways.
As a constant, continuous, eternal life-long learner, Dr. Holley has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Truman State University, (But have you ever seen his handwriting?!!) to a Middle School Language Arts Certification from St. Louis University, through a Masters Degree in Catholic Educational Leadership from SLU and now today (May 14th), he walks across the stage, again at SLU, receiving his Doctorate in Educational Leadership.
Patrick walks this campus with much head knowledge, in important things like: The History of Catholic Education, The History of Catholic Education in St. Louis, Church History and Church documents on education and discipleship, The Saints, Universal Standards, Curriculum, Standards-Based Grading, Instructional Best Practices, etc. He loves to discuss this stuff. Just ask him. 😀
As we began working together and getting more used to our very different styles, I would tease him that all this head knowledge is really great stuff. But where’s the heart part? We gotta have some heart knowledge too. Where’s your heart?
I know where Dr. Holley’s heart is. It’s on the wall in his office. 🙂Just go in there.
I am reminded of a time two years ago when Patrick and I sat across from each other in his office. I was discerning whether or not to accept this job that would make me Patrick’s teammate, breathing the same air that he did every day, making decisions on how best to lead this community. As we sat at his table in his office, it was his answer to this question that made all the difference: “So Patrick, what is YOUR personal mission? Why are you here? Why are you spending your life doing this?” He pointed to the banner hanging on his wall. It read and still does:
Therefore Go and Make Disciples of all Nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19.
I was sold. The deal was done. So here we are today.
The best way, though, to sum up the Big Heart of Dr. Holley? It’s in the words of his favorite Saint, St. John Baptist de La Salle, that go like this:
“Your zeal must go so far that you are willing to give your very life for the children entrusted to your care.”
Doctor Patrick Holley, thank you for giving your very life to Catholic education. Thank you for sharing your zeal for this mission with us here at St. Margaret of Scotland! We bless you and pray for you as you continue to carry this mission forward to St. Ambrose and wherever else the Lord may lead you. And may God bless your family wherever you may go.
May these final words always reside in your heart:
There is Joy in the House of the Lord Today! We shout out your Praise!
Throughout the school year, we will be highlighting the amazing and wonderful things that are happening in our classrooms and grade levels at St. Margaret of Scotland School. We are very proud of the work our teachers do with our students and are amazed by what happens at SMOS. Our goal is to share more about the hidden gem that is St. Margaret’s.
