St. Mary’s Ryken Welcomes Thomas R. Campbell as New Principal

 

St. Mary’s Ryken High School is pleased to announce the appointment of  Thomas R. Campbell as its new principal beginning in July 2025. A dedicated and visionary leader in Catholic education, Mr. Campbell brings over 25 years of experience in Catholic school administration and teaching, with a strong commitment to academic excellence, faith formation, and student success.

“As a graduate of and current educator in a Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School, I am most excited to learn more about how St. Mary's Ryken lives out the values and charism of the Xaverian Brothers,” said Mr. Campbell. “During my visit to campus as part of the interview process, I had the pleasure of meeting students, faculty, and staff. It was clear through my interactions with them how committed they are to St. Mary's Ryken's mission of excellence in service to each student. The privilege of serving the SMR community and continuing the fulfillment of that mission as principal is both humbling and exciting.”

Mr. Campbell joins SMR from another Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, MD, where he has served as principal since 2013. During his tenure, he led key initiatives, including implementing a 1:1 iPad program, establishing an International Student Program and STEM curriculum, and revamping the teacher evaluation process. He also expanded college counseling services.

"We are blessed to welcome Tom Campbell as the new principal of St. Mary’s Ryken High School for the next school year,” said Dr. Rick Wood, SMR President. “As a fellow Xaverian educator, Tom is deeply committed to academic excellence, faith formation, and community engagement. Throughout the interview process, the enthusiasm and support from our faculty, staff, and search committee were overwhelming, reflecting the genuine respect and excitement they have for Tom's leadership. His dedication to our mission and vision will continue to inspire our students, faculty, and entire school community as we move forward into an exciting future."

Committed to student well-being, he also redesigned the bell schedule, launched an advisory program, and guided the development of a Graduate Profile and Profile of a Teacher. Rooted in faith, he collaborated with Campus Ministry on service and retreats and helped lead the COVID-19 Response Team. He also supervised international student travel, enriching academic, cultural, and service experiences.

Before his leadership at Good Counsel, Mr. Campbell served as Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, where he worked on curriculum development, principal mentorship, and Catholic school marketing initiatives. His background also includes extensive experience in admissions and faculty development.

Passionate about fostering a vibrant Catholic school community, Mr. Campbell is eager to engage with St. Mary's Ryken's students, faculty, and families. “My main priority for my first year is simply getting to know as many people as possible and to learn as much as I can about the history, traditions, and characteristics that make St. Mary's Ryken such a special community,” said Mr. Campbell.

“In my experience, relationships are formed through the investment of time. I plan on being present as much as possible in classrooms, around campus, and at school and community events. Getting to know students, faculty, staff, and parents in the context of what they do and are passionate about is an excellent way to connect with them. In addition to meeting people, I want to know about St. Mary's Ryken's traditions and history so that we can preserve what makes the community so special and identify ways to make a strong school even stronger.”

Mr. Campbell is a Ph.D. Candidate in Instructional Leadership from Notre Dame of Maryland University. He has a Master of Arts in Historical Studies from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a Bachelor of Science in History/Secondary Education from Towson State University. He has also been an active member of various Catholic education organizations.

“My wife Amy, also a graduate of Good Counsel, and I have always talked about living closer to the water. The opportunity to be so close to the Chesapeake Bay and, at the same time, be in an area that is truly a community in all meanings of the term is something we look forward to.” Tom and his wife Amy have three children and one grandchild.

Mr. Campbell will begin his position as principal in July 2025. 

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Thomas (Tom) Campbell to St. Mary’s Ryken!