Anthony Gruich named Vice Principal and Athletic Director for 2016-2017 school year

St. Patrick Catholic High School proudly announces that Mr. Anthony Gruich has been named Vice Principal and Athletic Director for the 2016-2017 school year.

Mr. Gruich has been dedicated to education on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for twenty-eight years.  He has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and central office administrator.  Mr. Gruich has served as a classroom teacher for nine years and a school and district level administrator for nineteen years.

In addition to his experience in K-12 education, he has also designed, owned, and operated an early education center serving infants and pre-school aged children.  Mr. Gruich’s experience spans the full spectrum of education to include the following areas: pre-K, elementary, middle school, junior high, high school, alternative school and the central office.

Mr. Gruich is currently the principal of Vancleave High School, an “A-rated” school in the Jackson County School District.  As principal, Mr. Gruich’s professional focuses are on literacy, rigor, school climate, morality, character and the pursuit of excellence.  As principal, Mr. Gruich has also overseen the athletic programs at Vancleave.  Under his tenure as principal, Vancleave High has increased their ACT scores above the national average, ranked highest in the district regarding graduation rate, and implemented a dual credit program through Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and STEM programs through the Project Lead the Way Initiative.  Mr. Gruich has been named “Administrator of the Year” for the Vancleave Attendance Center in 2010 as an assistant principal and in 2016 as the high school principal.

Mr. Gruich was born and raised in Biloxi, Mississippi, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Gruich, Sr., and has five brothers and a sister.  The Gruich family were members of Nativity Parish.  Mr. Gruich has been married to the former Janet Nettles for twenty-five years, and they have three daughters who are all currently working in the field of education. He and his family have been members of St. Mary’s Parish in Woolmarket for the past twenty-four years.

Mr. Gruich stated, “I am very excited to become part of the St. Patrick family and the excellent educational opportunities they provide those seeking a faith-based education. The opportunity to work with Mr. Buckley and the excellent staff at St. Patrick is something that is simply too good to pass up.”  Mr. Gruich says that he looks forward to working in an environment where Catholic teachings are at the forefront of the educational experience.  Mr. Matt Buckley, principal of St. Patrick Catholic High School, said, “We look forward to welcoming Mr. Gruich to the team at St. Patrick.  I believe his experience in educational leadership, focus on developing spiritual growth, and background and interest in business and marketing will make him a great fit for our school.”

Mr. Gruich will begin working at St. Patrick early this summer.  Please join us in welcoming him to St. Patrick Catholic High School.