It didn't take long for new principal to become a Falcon fan

Staff photo by Nick Graham The Rev. David Endres, a teacher and chaplain, and Bishop Fenwick’s new principal, Mike Miller, on Tuesday, June 30.

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By Meagan Engle, Staff Writer 11:04 PM Friday, July 3, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Less than an hour into his first official day as principal of Bishop Fenwick High School, Mike Miller already was an avid supporter of the Catholic school.

Miller took over as principal Wednesday, July 1, though he’s been settling into the position all summer by meeting with parents, boosters and others.

“I’m excited. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Miller said from his new office.

“I’m so thankful to God for having it. The people here that I’ve met are so welcoming and generous with their time,” he said.

From his experience so far, Miller said he’d debate anyone that Fenwick is the best school is the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Miller said he’s been impressed with the positive attitude of everyone at the school.

“They love Fenwick,” he said. “I’m very proud of this school.”

“My goal for this year is to obviously continue the success they’ve had at Fenwick,” he said. “I’m just really trying to build on those traditions.”

Miller replaces Cathie Mulligan, who retired.

Now in his 18th year in Catholic education, Miller comes to Fenwick from Chaminade Julienne High School in Dayton, where he has served as director of curriculum and instruction since 2007.

A graduate of Chaminade, Miller studied political science Ohio State University.

He intended to go to law school, until the late Rev. Charles Mentrup asked him to coach wrestling at Alter High School and encouraged him to consider teaching.

Miller did, and earned his master’s degree in secondary education at Wright State University.

After teaching and coaching at Alter, his career took him to Missouri and then to the island of Saipan, near Guam.

It was at Saipan that he met his wife, and they spent six years working at a Catholic school there.

When they decided to have children, the couple moved to Texas for five years to help start a Catholic elementary school before returning to the Dayton area.

Now with his position at Fenwick, Miller said he felt as soon as he walked through the doors it was the right place for him, his wife and two children, ages 5 and 3.

“The values and the things I received from Catholic school, it’s why I’m here. I want to give that back to the people of Fenwick,” he said.

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