The 2024-25 school year brought a new face to the role of Catasauqua Middle School principal. Patrick McNulty is bringing his 24 years of education experience to Catasauqua Area School District.

McNulty reported he grew up in a similar town to Catasauqua, with one elementary school, one middle school and one high school.

“It was a tight-knit community, which reminded me of Catasauqua,” he said.

He appreciates the connections made in a small district. McNulty noted how much he loves seeing how many of the CASD teachers and staff members attended the Catasauqua schools themselves.

He previously worked in a larger school district for a number of years, where he learned a lot and appreciates all of the opportunities he found there.

“But I just needed the change to a smaller, more inclusive, welcoming community, and I found that here in Catasauqua,” he said.

McNulty attended Delaware Valley University, where he earned a business degree and played football. Before finding his niche in education, he worked in sales in the plumbing, heating and cooling industry, which helped him become more well-rounded, he said.

Having grown up with an educator for a mother, he had the itch to teach that he couldn’t ignore. This led him to get his master’s degree and teaching certificate from Lehigh University. He returned to Lehigh later for his master’s degree in educational leadership and principal’s certification.

He has taught fifth and eighth grades and served in administration at the elementary through high school levels. He said he really found his favorite space in the middle school. In the principal’s message on the CMS website, he wrote, “I developed a deep passion for this critical stage in a student’s academic journey.”

McNulty noted he lost his father at a young age and grew up in a household with four older sisters and his mother.

“I did not have a male teacher until seventh grade,” he said. “Being someone from a single-parent household without a father, it was important for me to teach middle school to help kids, especially boys, see a positive male role model — not just by what I say but just by watching.”

He reported learning a lot in his youth by watching uncles, grandparents and coaches.

“We only retain a certain amount of what we hear,” he said. “But what you see is important, and I felt the middle school was the best way to have that impact.”

McNulty said he liked teaching math but really prefers just talking with students.

“That’s what I love, just having a conversation and learning more about who they are,” he said.

He added he really likes to see student engagement and participation.

“If I walk into a classroom and see students working together and solving something on their own, that’s fantastic to me,” he said.

He said it has been helpful working across the different age groups.

“I’m probably one of the few administrators in the area to have worked at every level,” he said. “That is helpful because I’ve been able to transition. I know what the fourth grade to fifth grade transition looks like. I know what the eighth grade to ninth grade transition looks like.”

He said, more importantly, he knows what the students need at those stages to develop, whether they are growing into high school-aged young adults or shifting to focus on careers or college.

McNulty was officially approved to serve as the CMS principal at the Aug. 13 board of education meeting, pending his release from his previous employer, Allentown School District.

“The committee was in complete agreement — Patrick was the right guy for the job,” Assistant to the Superintendent Eric Dauberman said at the Aug. 13 meeting.

McNulty said the interview and hiring process was smooth and comfortable.

“I’m more than excited to be part of this district,” McNulty said at the meeting.

McNulty was happy to have been able to make it to the district for the start of the school year. He noted his start time changed a few times and thanked the board and administration for working with him.

“It was important that I was here day one,” he said.

He was happy to note there are two students from his old school district currently at CMS, which has helped make him feel more comfortable.

McNulty reported it is important to him that his students also feel safe and comfortable in school. He shared a story of a new student who was nervous about starting in a new school, so McNulty called the student’s old principal and had the two share a little conversation. The familiar voice helped settle the student and allowed them to relax.

He noted it’s been going very well and feels very welcomed by the staff and families.

“Coming from a larger district, there are more layers to get things done,” he said. “When I need something here, I can call the superintendent or assistant to the superintendent. I can reach out to my colleagues.”

He noted Superintendent Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling has been “fantastic with collaboration.”

“She values my opinion, which is very welcoming,” he said.

Looking forward, McNulty wants to look at the schedule to ensure they are maximizing their time to the best extent.

“We still have some kids who are struggling academically, and we want to be sure we can build in time for remediation and enrichment,” he said.

He noted he is not afraid to question why they do things certain ways.

“Just because we’ve done it for a long time doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

Additionally, he noted it is important for him that every person who comes in to the school feels welcomed and respected. He mentioned families have options for their students’ educations, such as charter schools, and wants to ensure they feel valued and want to be in the CASD.

“Everyone should be treated the same,” he said. “Whether you are the superintendent, family member or from an outside agency, it shouldn’t affect the way you are treated.”

On a personal note, McNulty and his wife have triplets — two boys and a girl. He was proud to report they made history in 2022 as the first triplets to graduate from Lehigh University.