St. John's School welcomes new principal

GOSHEN — Father Thomas K. Dicks, Pastor of St. John's Parish in Goshen, is pleased to welcome Michael O'Kane as the new principal of St. John's School.

O'Kane has spent that past 26 years of service as an educator in the Archdiocese of New York. He spent 24 years at Saint Angela Merici School in the Bronx — 19 years teaching, and four years as assistant principal. In 2011 he became one of eight members of Cohort 3 in the Curran Principal Academy at St. John's University in Manhattan to pursue an M.S. Ed. Degree as a school building leader.

During that year he was assistant principal at St. Ann School in Harlem. For the 2012-13 school year, he was selected to serve an internship at St. Peter's Regional School in Liberty, N.Y., studying to become a principal under the tutelage of Lisa Layman.

On May 6, he completed his M.S. Ed. degree. Three days later, on May 9, he began his service as principal at St. John's.

O'Kane is originally from the North of Ireland, County Derry. He came to New York in 1987. He has been married for 22 years and has one son, who is currently in college studying accounting.

As a Catholic School in the Archdiocese of New York, St. John's School strives to teach young people to be life-long learners and leaders informed by Catholic values. In addition to building a strong academic foundation, the school stresses service as part of the curriculum.

"The school is thrilled to welcome Mr. O'Kane as the new principal," a statement said.

St. John's School educates children in grades K-8 and is located at 77 Murray Avenue.