Looking ahead, he plans to expand Saint Thomas Academy with a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at molding young boys into men of strong character and integrity.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN, November 19, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Brian Ragatz has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Ragatz is the President of Saint Thomas Academy, a prestigious institution where he manages operations that serve over 560 boys, employs over 100 faculty and staff members and operates an annual budget of $15 million. He is also an alumnus of the school, class of 1998. Prior to this role, he served as president of the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence from 2020 to 2023, where he successfully secured $10 million annually to support the expansion and improvement of Catholic schools across Minnesota. This initiative benefitted approximately 150 schools and 35,000 students.
Before these appointments, Mr. Ragatz was an adjunct instructor at the University of St. Thomas from 2018 to 2020 while concurrently serving as principal at St. Odilia School from 2013 to 2020. During his tenure at the latter school, enrollment at the school nearly doubled, ending with approximately 700 students. Earlier in his career, he took on the role of principal at St. Thomas More Catholic School from 2011 to 2013 after filling the same position at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School from 2007 to 2011, where he was the youngest school leader in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Mr. Ragatz's academic background includes a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in 2007 and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and a Minor in Secondary Education from Saint John's University in 2002. Additionally, he completed coursework at Saint Thomas Academy from 1994 to 1998. He also holds an Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S) and a K-12 principal's license from the University of St. Thomas.
Mr. Ragatz attributes his success to the incredible support and guidance he received from leaders and mentors who instilled in him essential values and principles that shaped his approach to achieving success. This foundation has enabled him to confidently address large audiences daily, sharing his journey and emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity and ethical conduct in the pursuit of one's goals.
In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Ragatz has been actively involved in various civic organizations. He served on the advisory council for the Aim Higher Foundation from 2017 to 2020 and was a board member and treasurer for the Minnesota Non-Public Schools Accrediting Association from 2012 to 2015. He has also held leadership roles within the Archdiocesan Catholic School Principal's Association.
He also served in the Minnesota Army National Guard from 2003 to 2007. While at Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, he was chosen to lead 62 soldiers as a Platoon Leader and received the "Soldier of the Battalion Award" out of 1,500 soldiers. After he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, he served as a Chaplain Candidate; hosting prayer services while serving as a counselor and spiritual guide to over 1,000 soldiers.
In his personal life, Mr. Ragatz enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his son's sports teams in baseball, football, and basketball. He is also an author, having written "No Experience Necessary" in 2020. Looking ahead, he plans to expand Saint Thomas Academy with a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at molding young boys into men of strong character and integrity. His vision is focused on providing cadets with a distinctive, top-notch educational experience that nurtures their growth into responsible and upstanding citizens.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #