Leadership

Welcome to Damien High School, I am happy that you have found us and hope you will find information about who we are as Damien Spartans on this website. Damien High School is celebrating over 60 years as an all-boys Catholic high school and continue to grow and thrive as we serve our local community following in the footsteps of St. Damien of Moloka'i and our founding religious order, The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

As an alumnus of the Class of 1986, I can speak directly to the life lessons your son will receive here at Damien. Damien is an all-boys college preparatory school rooted in the foundations of the Catholic faith. Through our rigorous academics and extracurricular programs, your sons will become "men of Service, Scholarship, and Faith, prepared to engage a dynamic global society." We are proud of our college placement with 98% of all Damien graduates attending colleges, and 28% of these students attend out-of-state schools.

Damien men often speak of the Spartan Brotherhood we share — a brotherhood that extends from the first graduating class to our incoming freshmen. A unique brotherhood that is formed in a learning environment that supports the individual and each person’s development academically, spiritually, and in leadership. Together, Spartans are called to support one another, support our local communities, develop faith through prayer and service and aspire to become the best person they are called by God to be as men of “Service, Scholarship and faith.”

If becoming a Damien Spartan has piqued your interest, I invite you to visit our campus here on Damien Ave. to get a first-hand experience to the culture and academic environment we have worked tirelessly to build for our community for over 60 years.

I look forward to meeting you!

St. Damien — Pray for Us!

Joseph Siegmund, '86, PhD

President

Led by the President, the leadership team is charged with overseeing the academic, co-curricular, and spiritual integrity of the school. In partnership with staff, faculty, and parents, we execute the strategic initiatives set by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and our Consultative Board.

PRESIDENT | Dr. Joseph Siegmund '86

The President is the chief administrator of the school in collaboration with the Principal and bears responsibility for the school’s operation and policies, concentrating primarily on its Catholicity, vision, mission and philosophy, finances, development and fund-raising efforts, care of the physical facilities, marketing, public information and maintenance of positive relations with pastors, parents, other schools, and the civic community.

Year started at Damien: 2020
Total years in Catholic Education: 5
Other jobs held at Damien: None
Professional Background: University Professor at International American University, MBA Program Chair at International American University, Vice President, R&D Design Engineer / HVAC Control Systems
Degrees/Credentials: Bachelor of Business Administration, American InterContinental University; Master of Business Administration, Saint Leo University; Doctor of Business Administration, Northcentral University

PRINCIPAL | Dr. Mike Castillo '00

The Principal serves as our school's educational leader. The Principal is responsible for exercising sound judgment in the implementation of a broad array of programs and functions. The Principal bears responsibility for the school’s operation and policies, Catholicity, curriculum, co-curricular activities, discipline, personnel practices, public information and maintenance of positive relations with pastors, parents, other schools, and the civic community.

Year started at Damien: 2004-2017; 2020-Present
Total years in Catholic Education: 20
Other jobs held at Damien: Director of Communications, Summer School Coordinator, Dean of Curriculum, and Social Science faculty
Professional Background: Vice Principal at Bishop Mora Salesian High School in Los Angeles
Degrees/Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, Brown University; Master of Arts in Catholic School Administration & Doctor in Educational Leadership for Social Justice, Loyola Marymount University

VICE PRINCIPAL & DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING | Mr. Jeff Coray

The Vice Principal reports directly to the Principal and is responsible for all areas of school operation in the Principal’s absence. The prime responsibility is to assist the Principal in providing and implementing an appropriate program of studies and curriculum policies for the student body. The Vice Principal is also responsible for the fulfillment of various other administrative and organizational functions.

Year started at Damien: 1982-1998; 2012-Present
Total years in Catholic Education: 31
Other jobs held at Damien: Activities Director; Assistant Principal
Professional Background: 11 years as a Project Manager in K12 student information systems
Degrees/Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, Occidental College; Master of Arts, California State University, San Bernardino

DEAN OF FACULTY | Mr. Chris Douglas '91

The Dean of Faculty is the overall supervisor of the teachers in the school. He works with the Department Chairs in moving forward the professionalism of the teaching staff.

Year started at Damien: 1996
Total years in Catholic Education: 28
Other jobs held at Damien: Dean of Faculty, CSF/NHS Coordinator
Professional Background (other relevant jobs): Has served at Damien for entirety of career
Degrees/Credentials: Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, UC Santa Barbara; Masters of Business Administration, Cal Poly Pomona; California Teaching Credential - Mathematics

DEAN OF CURRICULUM | Ms. Angela Curry (St. Lucy's '89)

Provide leadership for the curriculum development of the school and encourage implementation of the latest teaching methodologies within the mission and philosophy of Damien High School.

Year started at Damien: 2003
Total years in Catholic Education: 30
Other jobs held at Damien: Science Department Chair, Drama Production Coordinator, Co-Activities Director, STEP Counselor
Professional Background: Science Teacher at St. Lucy's Priory High School from 1994-2000, Project Engineer for a general contractor 2002-2003, Head / Assistant Track and Field and Cross Country Coach for St. Lucy's from 1995-2015
Degrees/Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, UC San Diego; Master of Public Administration, University of La Verne

DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH | Mr. Eric McElrea

Provides leadership and performs all necessary functions related to the collection, interpretation, and use of institutional data for planning, assessment, and decision making. Facilitates access to information maintained in the school’s administrative / student information system to support college operations and monitor key institutional indicators, ensuring the integrity of data/information released in reports or studies, and providing data analysis, reporting, or research as needed to support institutional objectives.

Year started at Damien: 2003
Total years in Catholic Education: 22
Other jobs held at Damien: Director of I.T., Computer Science faculty
Professional Background (other relevant jobs): Has served at Damien for entirety of career
Degrees/Credentials: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Cal Poly Pomona; Master of Arts in Educational Studies, University of Phoenix

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT | Mr. Freddy Wilkens

The Director of Advancement is responsible for expanding the private sector development department. Primary duties include all aspects of fund development, including cultivation and donor follow-up, drafting grant proposals, reports, and correspondence to donors; and conducting prospect research on individuals, foundations, and corporations.

Year started at Damien: 2021
Total years in Catholic Education: 4
Other jobs held at Damien: None
Professional Background: Director of Development in the Social Service sector for 6+ years and development consultant to several organizations and foundations
Degrees/Credentials: Bachelor of Arts & Master of Business Administration, Azusa Pacific University

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS | Mr. Jeff Grant '99

The Athletic Director is responsible for all athletics, both interscholastic and intramural that occur both on and off campus.

Year started at Damien: 2004
Total years in Catholic Education: 21
Other jobs held at Damien: Mathematics faculty, Activities Director, Dean of Students, Baseball coach
Professional Background: Has served at Damien for entirety of career
Degrees/Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, University of Redlands; Master of Arts in Education, Loyola Marymount University

The Consultative Board brings people together of exceptional expertise and experience in much needed areas such as finance, accounting, business, education, etc. to advise the school administration so that the best possible results can be realized for students and for the mission of the school. The Board is established to assist the administrative officer(s) by providing advice and counsel particularly in the following areas:

• Policy & Planning
• Budget & Finance
• Development
• Marketing & Public Relations
• Plant & Facilities

BOARD CHAIR | Ralph Muñoz '94

Tom Boyle '97

Tom is an alumnus of Damien High School (Class of 1997). Tom received his Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Fullerton and his MBA from the University of Notre Dame. He is the President of Quik Pick Express, LLC, a 3rd party logistics company. Tom resides in La Verne, California with his wife (Courtney - St Lucy's Class of '97) and two children (Ryan - Damien Class of '25 and Rachel - St. Lucy's Class of '26).

Francis Cabildo

Francis Cabildo is the Director of Worship at Our Savior Parish and USC Caruso Catholic Center. He previously has served as a campus minister at Santa Margarita Catholic High school and JSerra Catholic High School. He has also served as a parish youth minister. Francis has a B.A. in theology from Catholic International University. He and his wife Nicole are raising five boys - Dylan (Damien Class of 2024) and Brayden (Damien Class of 2026) and three younger ones at St. Margaret Mary in Chino.

Tom Daley '90

Tom graduated from Damien High School in 1990. He has a B.A. in Communications (Journalism emphasis) from the University of La Verne and a master’s in public administration from Cal State University at Fullerton. Tom has more than 30 years of experience in advertising and marketing. At the Los Angeles Times, he was a key member of the circulation management division that managed a multi-million-dollar budget and negotiated comprehensive initiatives with the SoCal arenas, major sports teams (college and professional) and top marketing agencies. Since 2005, Tome serves as president and CEO of Daley Technology Systems, which works with governmental agencies, organizations and companies to build brand awareness and increase revenue. He and his wife, Erin, and two children, Shannon and Sean, stay busy with school and sports activities.

Sean Gilboy '87

Sean is an alumnus of Damien High School (Class of 1987), earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. He completed his Masters in Counseling at Loyola Marymount University and earned his PhD in Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University. He Served in the U.S. Army as an Airborne Brigade Psychologist and is an Iraq War Veteran. Post Army, Sean has worked for Veterans Affairs in several capacities working to heal our nation's Veterans.

Carrie Hayden (St. Lucy's '93)

Carrie is graduated from St. Lucy’s Priory in 1993. She earned her BFA at Cal State Fullerton, and received her teaching credential and Masters at the University of La Verne. She is a teacher and the chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Colony high school. Her son currently attends Damien and is a member of Class of 2026. Her daughter is a current 8th grader at Our Lady of Assumption in Claremont.

Kelly Stilkey (St. Lucy's '95)

Kelly is an alumna of St. Lucy’s Priory High School (Class of 1995). She is a wife and mother to four beautiful children (One son is an alumnus of Damien Class of 2023 and one daughter is a current St. Lucy’s student (Class of 2027). Kelly has served on St. Joseph School Board as well as the Academic Excellence Board. She is a paralegal at Banks, Garcia & Janis Law Firm in Rancho Cucamonga while also owning and operating a catering business with her husband.

Gerard V. Tamparong

The father of three boys – all Spartans – Gerard and his wife Christa (St. Lucy’s Class of 1994) always envisioned themselves as a Damien family and they have welcomed the brotherhood. Gerard earned his Bachelor of Science at Loyola Marymount University and has worked in institutional investment management for over 25 years. He founded Miracle Mile Institutional in 2020, a division of Miracle Mile Advisors.

Jennifer Vasquez (St. Lucy's '97)

Jennifer Vasquez, a St. Lucy's Priory High School alumna (Class of 1997), earned her Bachelor of Business from the University of San Diego. She is the vice president of business development and corporate communications at C.W. Driver Companies, a leading general contractor in Southern California. Jennifer has been involved with the Los Angeles Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services for over two decades and is an active member of the Hillsides H100 group, advocating for vulnerable children and families in the LA area.

Fr. Eric Cruz

Fr. Eric was born and raised in the Philippines. He studied at Holy Angel University and graduated with a Degree in English. He worked as a voice talent for a radio station, a financial executive at a bank, and as a casino dealer for 6 years before finally fulfilling his lifelong dream and longing for a religious life. Fr. Eric was ordained to the priesthood in 2023 and is since serving as Chaplain at Damien High School.

Fr. Rich Danyluk

Fr. Rich is a Religious Order priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Presently he is a pastor of Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church in San Dimas. He was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He received his BA from St. Mary’s in Winona, Minnesota; Master in Applied Spirituality at University of San Francisco. He was ordained a priest in 1975. During the forty years of ministry he has served as a teacher at St. Elizabeth in the inner city of Oakland, spent four years in the Philippines opening a seminary for students from Japan, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. He has served as Provincial Superior for his community, Pastor of St. Joseph’s in Alameda, CA.