Seven-fifteen in the morning.
He’s there most, if not all, weekdays—not as a leader of a school, but as a follower of his faith.
Richard Engler, president of Cretin-Derham Hall high school, begins many weekdays in prayer at the school’s daily Mass. “His faith is so important to him,” says Mark McGuire, a 20-year math instructor. “He models his Christian values every day.”
“I try to live my faith and values, whether it be through Catholic social teaching or the relationship with people,” Engler says. Engler is retiring June 30 after coming to Cretin-Derham Hall in 1990 from Aberdeen, S.D., to serve as principal/president. In 2011, he began serving solely as president. “I love what I do, but it was just time to retire,” he says.
Yet Engler’s impact will be felt by the school community for a long time to come. “He is a true visionary,” McGuire says. “He is an amazing man.”
Some of Engler’s ideas and vision developed into impactful programs. “[He] has been a major proponent of bringing technology into the classroom and teaching our students to be leaders in the community,” McGuire says. “He also has made a concerted effort to increase the diversity of our student population.”
Engler counts among his achievements retiring the school’s debt, enhancing facilities (science wing, library center, theater and fine arts space, and a field house) and developing a student endowment to bolster tuition assistance.
When the word “retirement” arises, “legacy” begins its ascent into the conversation. Engler says his legacy is an outgrowth of the impact of the school, co-sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the Brothers of Christian Schools. “I’ve grown to understand what they mean to this community and to education,” he says. “That has been a powerful thing for me.” That understanding inspired him to aid in developing what he feels is his legacy—identifying the school’s core values: Catholic, academic, leadership, community, service, diversity and equity. “These have become integral in everything we do,” he says.
“He’s the kind of leader who chooses people who are good at what they do and lets them do it,” 16-year Spanish instructor Patty Murray says. “He supports you and says, ‘You can.’ To me, that’s his greatest legacy.”
It was Engler’s guidance that led Murray during her time on the school’s strategic planning committee. At the outset, the committee’s mission was unclear to Murray. “He guided us until we knew where we were going,” she says. “He kept saying, ‘Hold on. Hang with me. It will totally become clear.’” Eventually, the committee presented three major initiatives: Caring Adults for Student Achievement (learning communities), Multiple Intelligences (teaching to diverse learning styles) and developing a program that makes education more relevant to students during their senior year. “I think he was setting everything up, so when he was gone, people could be in charge,” Murray says. “We would have the confidence that we could go on without him.”
That philosophy flows into the school community. “Cretin-Derham Hall is not where it is today because of me,” Engler says. “It is where it is today because of the Cretin-Derham Hall community. This is a community that has allowed itself to become an outstanding school.”
Leader. Mentor. Friend.
Frank Miley, executive vice president,
offers these words when talking about Dick Engler, from whom Miley will
take over the Cretin-Derham Hall presidency.
“He is a strong
visionary leader who works tirelessly to be collaborative,” Miley says.
“He knows education inside and out, and he has a strong sense of self.
He’s a very confident leader.”
While Engler worked to involve the
school community in decision making, Miley says he wasn’t afraid to
stand alone, especially in the early days of his tenure, to make
difficult decisions to lead Cretin-Derham Hall onto a more successful
and stable path.
Stepping into Engler’s wake doesn’t faze Miley,
even as he says the two men have very different leadership styles. Miley
calls himself “visual,” with a strong sense for finance and a strength
for development. Though they might be different in style, Miley says,
“We are in close step in the way we see the role of the Catholic school
in our church community,” Among other priorities, Miley is committed to
maintaining an openness to socio-economic, racial and learning
diversities.
Miley says he is prepared to continue down the path
set forth by Engler, the rest of the school community, and especially
the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the Brothers of Christian
Schools. “Our legacy is to carry [the school vision] forward,” he says.
Engler hasn’t outlined his days past June 30, which will include time with his wife, Bridget, four children and six grandchildren. “I know I’ll be busy,” he says.
