Meet Our Board of Trustees President, John Toohig

John Toohig and his wife Sha are the parents of two SAA Stars, Helen Grace (SAA11) and Cressey (SAA4).  This fall John is beginning his first term as Chair of the St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School Board of Trustees. He brings both professional expertise and a parent’s perspective to guiding our school’s future. Take a minute to get to know John and why he thinks the future is bright for SAA-SDS!

Are you originally from Memphis?  

I’m not originally from Memphis, but I certainly grew up here. My mother and father moved to northern Mississippi when I was two years old. I grew up in Olive Branch, attended St. Paul Elementary School, and eventually went to Christian Brothers High School. After a short stint in New York for undergrad, I returned to Memphis. After working a few years, I  went to Ole Miss for my MBA, where I met my wife Sha, and I have worked in Memphis my entire adult life.

Why did you and Sha choose St. Agnes Academy for your daughters?

This was an easy decision for us. We knew we wanted to have both Helen Grace and Cressey in a Catholic school and allow them to go from K-12 so that they could form longstanding friendships with their classmates. SAA was on our short list of potential schools. Both Sha and I immediately fell in love with the teachers and the grounds of St. Agnes. We never looked back.

What is your favorite thing about the school?

I love the fact that we are the oldest continuously operating school in Western Tennessee (Memphis) and the oldest operating Dominican secondary school in the country. We have a very proud tradition to uphold. Founded by six Dominican Sisters of Saint Catharine from Kentucky, our founders traveled from Bardstown to Memphis, TN to open our doors. I believe the Sisters of Saint Catharine would be very proud to see the well-rounded students graduating from our schools today. We’re celebrating our 175^th anniversary in 2026, and I look forward to seeing us thrive for another 175.

Why did you decide to volunteer at the school?

The board has 6 committees and 20 Trustees. I have a strong background in finance and was initially asked to lend those talents to the investment and finance committees. I quickly realized that participating was a great way to keep myself  involved with the school and also with my girls. My job requires a lot of travel, and being a Trustee helps anchor me to what’s important.

Briefly describe the role of the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees’ primary role is to support the President of the school. This will be my eighth year serving on the Board and I believe we really have a terrific blend of current parents, previous graduates and other individuals who have come to love this great institution. We do not make decisions about curriculum, faculty, staff, or athletics. Instead, we are a sounding board for the President, oversee the school’s finances and its strategic direction, and make sure it continues to operate. A very specific responsibility of the Board of Trustees-one that we get to perform for the first time in 10 years-is hiring the next Head of School.

Please share your thoughts on the search process and the work being done by the committee that will shape the future of SAA-SDS.

I want to thank Tom Hood for his decade of dedicated leadership and everything he has done for our school. We are very grateful for his 16-month advance notice, which is giving us ample time to conduct a thorough search. Travis LeMonte is a former board chair, a current parent, a successful businessman, a Memphian, and has a steady hand in guiding us step by step through this process. He’s our search Chair and has made all the right calls from selecting Carney Sandoe as our search firm, to assembling a group of engaged SAA-SDS community members to be a part of the committee, and planning out everything necessary to find our next Head of School. The pool of candidates is strong, including international applicants. We are reviewing the semifinalists soon, with interviews ahead and a final announcement expected by year-end. Our school remains a sought-after place for educators, and it is an honor to help guide this pivotal decision.

Looking ahead, what are you excited about in the school’s future?

If you don’t live and breathe the inner workings of the school you can easily miss just how many amazing things are happening on campus. St. Agnes Academy- St. Dominic School is really four schools running as one. We’ve successfully raised over $20 million and built a state-of-the-art STEM building. The endowment of the school has never been higher. President Hood and the admissions team have raised enrollment for 4 years running and 9 of the classes at SAA-SDS now have a wait list. This fall, we had the largest freshman class enter our Upper School halls in the last 5 years. St. Dominic school has shown nearly 20% growth in the last 4 years. We’re in the middle of the second phase of our capital campaign to complete our new fieldhouse and improve our athletic facilities. That will help support the success of the over 80 teams representing our great school. Just look around the campus and you see a vibrant community built on the four Dominican Pillars of Service, Study, Prayer and Community. We have so much to be proud of!

What advice would you give to a new parent in our community?

Enjoy the ride, it goes by fast. Get plugged in and find a way to get involved – there’s plenty to do! Be a room mom, help with a school play, man the concession stand, be a part of the Gala, participate in the phonathon to raise money, support our Suns and Stars as they compete in athletics, celebrate our Seniors with Project Graduation, chaperone a school trip, come to school Masses – the list is endless. You’re being welcomed into a loving community that wants to see your Sun or Star find nothing but success - success in friendship, scholarship, community, prayer and preparation for their future. My oldest is a Junior at St. Agnes this year, but I close my eyes and still see her going into the ECC and being loved on by our teachers. Our teachers are our greatest strength and they will work tirelessly to see your child succeed. Help them find success.