The Archbishop of Philadelphia has primary responsibility for the mission of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Executive Board of Elementary Education (EBEE) receives its authority from the Archbishop, and in turn, the EBEE is charged with establishing guidelines and operating principles for local boards for Catholic schools within the archdiocese.
The purpose of the Board is to promote and advance the mission of the parish school for the education and instruction of students in assisting them to “reach the fullness of the Christian life” (see canon 794, #1). In keeping with the principles of the Roman Catholic Church, the Board collaborates with the pastor and works in partnership with the parish school principal in ensuring that the parish school fulfills its mission of forming the human person for our final end and for the common good (see canon 795). The Board also collaborates with the pastor and works in partnership with the parish school principal in ensuring that the finances of the parish school remain healthy and that the school provides a course of education as prescribed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and by the applicable policies, rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Board, with limited power of governance and in collaboration with the pastor, is a participatory, policy-making body for the matters identified herein pertaining to the parish school. Accordingly, all decisions of the Board shall be binding upon the school administrators and shall be in compliance with canon law (see canons 793-806), the letter and the intent of the policies, rules and regulations of the Office of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (OCE), the applicable rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and those powers reserved to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
FULL OPERATING PRINCIPLES
My family has been part of the Saint Thomas school community since 2013. Our two daughters have attended STA since preschool. Lilyanna is now in 6th grade and Evelyn is in 4th. My wife, Laura, is currently the STA Learning Support Specialist. For the past nine years, we have been active in CYO, Home & School, and have helped plan and support many school fundraisers and annual events.
I grew up in Drexel Hill and attended 16 years of Catholic education at Saint Bernadette School, Monsignor Bonner High School and Merrimack College where I was active in many sports and school organizations. Today, I still enjoy playing golf, paddle and tennis, and ice hockey.
I currently work for Global Atlantic Financial Group. I have been part of the retirement solutions business since 2000. I have worked with investment products and advisors in the annuity, mutual fund and 401k markets.
Lisa was raised in Drexel Hill attending St. Andrew the Apostle, and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Upper Darby. She then went on to graduate from Ursinus College, where Lisa earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with minors in Computer Science and Art. Lisa also met her husband Steve at Ursinus. Later, she received her MBA from Villanova University. Lisa and her husband live in Glen Mills where they too have been raising their four children Gianna, Zachary, Tommy, and Vivian. All of their children have attended St. Thomas the Apostle School since Pre-k. Lisa enjoys getting involved with the supporting the school, parish and athletics to help contribute to the current and future of state of our children’s Catholic education and community.
Lisa has worked in financial services technology for over 20 years and more recently in platform technology. She is currently a Senior Product Manager for Appian. Prior to this role, she was Vice President of Product Management at eMoney Advisor, a financial planning software company based out of Radnor. Prior to eMoney, Lisa worked at SEI, a leading global provider of investment processing, investment management, and investment operations solutions.
Angie Strzelecki has been involved with St. Thomas Parish for the last 19 years and has been active as a lector, eucharistic minister, and with the finance committee, gardening committee, school fundraising committee and CYO.
Angie's professional experience has been with the DuPont company for the past 28 years and is currently with the IFF Company. She has held many leadership roles in operations, research & development, strategy, corporate planning and business management, including her current role as global Business President.
Angie lives in Garnet Valley with her husband, Joe and two sons, Ryan and Kyle, who are alumni of St. Thomas the Apostle school and currently attending Penn State and Drexel Universities.
Tyler J. Therriault is an attorney with Donaghue & Labrum law firm in Media, Pennsylvania. His practice supports individuals and families throughout the greater Philadelphia metro area and all across the state who have suffered injuries or loss as a result of someone else’s negligent, careless or unlawful actions.
Tyler has earned recognition from The Best Lawyers in America and received designation from The National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Lawyers and Top 40 Under 40 for civil litigation in Pennsylvania. Highly active in the legal community, Tyler is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Associations for Justice, the Delaware and Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Associations, the National Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, and the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association, among his other professional affiliations.
A graduate of Dickinson College, Tyler attended Rutgers Law School in Camden, New Jersey. He holds his license to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
A member of St. Thomas the Apostle parish, Tyler lives in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania with his wife, Bridget, and three children—Audrey Kay, Piper Lucille and Henry Hugh. Audrey and Piper have attended Saint Thomas since pre-school/kindergarten and the Therriault family is grateful to be a part of this vibrant parish community.
Co-founder of the LaGreca/Catanese Enterprise established in 2006, Joy Catanese has a diverse background in finance and family operations. Joy grew up in Bel Air, MD and was blessed to have a Catholic education through high school. She went on to graduate from Dickinson College with a degree in Economics. After graduating she worked as a financial consultant for multiple firms including KPMG, Exelon and Blank Rome before taking a break to focus on her family. Along with her partner and co-founder Benjamin Catanese, her main focuses are raising her children Luna, Rocco, Penny and Millie (all attending STA) as well as growing her family businesses which includes VW of Salem County and Glenside Auto Sale. She currently resides with her family in Media, PA and enjoys anything outdoors and fine wine.
Michael is the 4th of five in his family who attended St. Thomas the Apostle school. He then graduated from Garnet Valley High School and afterwards obtained a BFA from Kutztown University with a concentration in Advertising and Illustration.
In his working career, he's worked in advertising, graphic design, illustration, product development and package design for both large and small companies. Currently, Michale is the Director of the Corporate Design Group for the Main Line Health system
Mrs. MaryPat Lynam
Despite being (much) older “parents”, the staff and families of STA welcomed MaryPat and Natalie when she entered kindergarten in 2014.
The core values of the school – kindness, acceptance, hard work, honesty – match those of MaryPat's family.
As a former business owner, longtime volunteer, active community member and now the Director of Development for The Library Foundation of Delaware County, MaryPat hopes to contribute and support the mission of this board utilizing her experience, skills, and network. MaryPat is honored to have been selected to serve.