Three Esteemed Jesuit Educators Join Prep Leadership
This summer, three well-regarded Jesuit educators will become part of the Prep’s Administrative Leadership:
John McCaul, Principal
John McCaul is the new Principal of St. Joseph’s Prep, joining our community on July 1. He replaces Andy Cavacos, who spent six years at the helm of the academic affairs of the school. Cavacos will remain at the Prep and will be working in Mission and Ministry on adult formation.
McCaul has served as Principal at four different schools, most recently at Archbishop Spalding in Severn, Maryland. He has experience in Jesuit education, having worked at Loyola Blakefield for 15 years — mostly as Assistant Principal for Faculty Development but including a term as the school’s interim Principal. An exceptional educator and effective leader, at Blakefield McCaul developed and implemented a professional growth program for teachers that was recognized as one of the best in the region. He approaches his vocation with a presumption of good will and humor, he fosters a collaborative, supportive environment, and he is experienced in developing new programs, courses, and curricula.
“John’s guiding ethos is to build a culture of belonging for everyone in the community to foster growth, resilience, and achievement that stems from his devotion to Jesuit spirituality,” says John Marinacci. McCaul serves as a spiritual director for Loyola University Maryland, accompanying students and adults in the 19th annotation of the Spiritual Exercises. He is also committed to service, having volunteered as a member of the Teacher Service Corps In Washington D.C., and chaperone on many service trips, including to the US-Mexico border as part of the Kino Border Initiative.
“Through the search process, I was struck by many of the applicants who displayed strength in different facets that are crucial for the position,” syas Marinacci. “John is the person who pulls it all together and is the right leader for St. Joseph’s Prep at this time.”
McCaul has local roots, growing up in Cherry Hill and earning his Bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University. He then went on to earn his first MA in Education Administration and Policy studies from Catholic University and his second MA in Teaching, Secondary Education from Trinity University in Washington DC.
McCaul will join the President’s Leadership Team and will lead an outstanding group of Assistant Principals — Dan Ranalli, Josh Rorer, and Vince Tarducci — to form a talented and strong educational administration that will continue to ensure The Prep experience remains the most impactful in the Delaware Valley.
Stephen Abrams, Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment
Stephen Abrams is the Prep’s new Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment. Abrams, who was most recently the Chief Admissions and Enrollment Officer at Loyola Blakefield, arrived in April to begin the process for attracting and enrolling the Class of 2030 and beyond.
Abrams has a deep history in the field of admissions and enrollment while also being well-versed in Jesuit education, having spent the past seven years at Blakefield where he oversaw the processes and strategies for the recruitment of prospective families, the retention of current families, and all enrollment-related marketing efforts. His efforts led to Blakefield having the highest enrollment in school history while also decreasing the acceptance rate. In addition, he led efforts to stabilize the school’s annual retention rate at 98-99 percent.
Prior to his work at Blakefield, he worked at Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys, his alma mater, as Dean of Student Achievement, as well as Greenspring Montessori School and McDonogh School, working as a teacher and admissions professional at both.
Professionally, he has been active with the National Association of Independent Schools and has attended their annual conference as well as their People of Color Conference. Abrams also serves as the Vice President of Baltimore Collegiate’s Board of Trustees, where he helped the school navigate a successful charter renewal process. At Blakefield, Abrams was the point person for Community Engagement and Belonging and played an instrumental role in the school’s Strategic Planning Process.
Bryan Ghee, Athletic Director
Longtime Prep administrator Bryan Ghee has been selected to become the next Athletic Director after serving as an Associate Athletic Director for the past three years and has been an integral part of the department during that time. Ghee has been at the Prep for 15 years, starting as an Athletic Trainer and then moving through a variety of leadership roles including the Dean’s Office, Transportation, and Activities. Ghee is well-known for his care for our students and working with the community to ensure that they are having the best possible experiences.
Before coming to the Prep, Ghee worked as an Athletic Trainer at the collegiate level. He has been very active with the wrestling and football programs during his tenure at the Prep and has become a resource for many of the coaches. Working in Athletics, he has made many connections with the other administrators in the Catholic League and the PIAA. Ghee has a wealth of knowledge in ensuring student success outside of the classroom in co-curricular activities and athletics and is the right person to lead our Athletic Program.
In addition to his Athletic and Co-Curricular experience, Ghee is also well-regarded as an Ignatian educator. He has participated in the Ignatian Leadership Seminar and took a Master’s class in Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm. A frequent Kairos leader, Ghee values Jesuit education with its emphasis on educating the whole person.
