Gary Green heads Saint Vincent de Paul School

Friday, Sep. 25, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — Gary Green’s career in the Utah Catholic school system began when he entered J.E. Cosgriff Memorial School as a young boy. 

After graduating from Judge Memorial Catholic High School, Green anticipated becoming a lawyer, but his life took a different path during his senior year of college and he decided to become a teacher.

After nine years in the classroom, he moved into administration, serving eight years as vice principal of St. Vincent de Paul School before becoming principal on July 1.

While serving as vice principal, Green taught in the middle school: sixth-grade home room, social studies, science, religion or language arts, “wherever I was needed,” he said; during that time he also participated in an administrative internship.

Mark Longe, the former St. Vincent’s principal who is now superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools, hired Green as the school’s vice principal in 2007. 

“Gary already had a master’s in education, and during his internship he obtained administration credentials,” said Longe. “We wanted the person that took over the principal position to be familiar with the community and the people at St. Vincent. Gary was well suited and well prepared to take over. I’m confident he will develop his style as a leader and be very successful. He is a very intelligent, very capable man, a very devout Catholic and he loves kids and people. 

“What is really important is building strong relationships and continuing to carry on the charism of the Presentation Sisters who started the school – love and hospitality,” Longe continued. “Also, Father John Norman is there to help and advise, and I know Gary will work well with him.” 

Fr. Norman is pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish.

Green recommends that teachers interested in administration participate in an internship program. 

“A good principal can show you the way,” Green said. “The internship was three times as helpful as a degree.”

Prior to going into administration at St. Vincent de Paul School, Green taught fifth grade for nine years at J.E. Cosgriff Memorial School in Salt Lake City, and two years at Saint Olaf School in Bountiful. 

He left St. Olaf to go to the University of Portland to obtain a master’s degree in education. He received administrative credentials from the University of Scranton.

Catholic education and religion are both important to Green, he said. “I would like to keep my spiritual and prayer life more personal, but my position demands me to be a spiritual leader,” he said. “I keep a reflection book by Pope Francis on my desk and I read from it to keep myself on track.” 

Teaching and being in administration has allowed Green to spend quality and a quantity of time with his three sons who are 3, 7, and 11, and attend the school. His wife, Jeramie Green, is the director of the Nano Nagle Children’s Center, which serves St. Vincent de Paul School and the surrounding community.

“Having a job that is a ministry is a real blessing,” said Gary Green. “Practicing the faith helps kids feel better about themselves.”

Green is also an author and a singer/cantor. While attending the University of Utah, he sang at Saint Ambrose Parish. He also sang at Saint Catherine of Siena Newman Center for 15 years. He now sings at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, where he and his family are members.

In 2008 Green self-published the book Who Mustached St. Anthony, based loosely on people he knows, he said. “It’s a fictional children’s chapter book; I wanted to write about diversity and something I could share with the kids in class,” he said.