Special to The Texas Catholic
Lisa Long has been appointed the next president of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, beginning with the 2026–2027 school year.
In an announcement released Jan. 17, Father Ryan Hiaeshutter, pastoral administrator of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, praised “the appointment of Dr. Lisa Long as the next president of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School,” noting her long-standing commitment to Catholic education and her “distinguished record of leadership.”
Long steps into a role that has been held by Patrick Magee for more than two decades. Magee announced in August that he would retire at the end of the current school year.
Long currently serves as principal of Christ the King Catholic School, where she has led since 2019. Over more than a decade at the school, she has held roles including teacher, director of curriculum, assistant principal, and principal, giving her what Father Hiaeshutter’s announcement called “a rare and comprehensive understanding of Catholic schools from every lens.”
Long holds a Doctor of Education in Catholic School Leadership from Saint Louis University, where she earned high distinction recognition, and a Master of Education from Southern Methodist University with high honors. Her leadership, Father Hiaeshutter’s announcement said, is grounded in the mission of Catholic education and supported by research-based practices that foster the formation of the whole child.
Long has led accreditation processes, authored National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence self-studies, strengthened faculty development, expanded student support systems and collaborated with pastors, advisory councils, and diocesan leaders. Her work reflects “a servant-leader approach rooted in collaboration and trust.”
In addition to her school leadership, Long has served as an adjunct professor and curriculum designer at the University of Dallas, teaching graduate-level courses in instructional leadership, curriculum development, and spiritual leadership. She is also a frequent presenter at national and diocesan conferences.
A parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Long has expressed appreciation for the community’s “faith-filled, joyful, and vibrant” character. Father Hiaeshutter noted that Long’s leadership philosophy aligns with the school’s mission “to educate the whole child, to form disciples of Christ, and to pursue excellence in all that we do.” She often says that “bringing vision to the mission supports excellence and promotes growth.”