New principal, Richard Kruczek, joins St. Margaret of Cortona-St. Gabriel School

Richard Kruczek has worked in private schools for the last 21 years. He said he isn’t stressed about the transition into St. Margaret of Cortona-St. Gabriel School, as he was Catholic-school student himself.

Courtesy Richard Kruczek

It’s been one year since the merging of St. Margaret of Cortona School with St. Gabriel School and now the new school will receive a new principal.

Richard Kruczek comes to St. Margaret of Cortona-St. Gabriel School from Garden School in Queens after dedicating 21 years to the private independent school. 

Kruczek began his teaching career as a history teacher before becoming the chair of the history department, and then the dean of freshman and sophomore grades. 

“I had pretty much every job under the sun while teaching a full course load,” Kruczek said. 

Although he has held several leadership and administrative positions before, Kruczek’s role as principal is new step, and he said he’s looking forward to getting to solely focus on his administrative role. 

He said he feels at home inside of a Catholic school as a product of one himself. Once upon a time, he attended Regis High School, a private, all-boys Catholic school in the city, before continuing his education at Boston College, a private Catholic university in Massachusetts.

Kruczek later went on to receive his master’s in American history from Fordham, another private Catholic institution in the Bronx, and another master’s in education with a concentration in school building leadership from St. John’s University, a private Catholic university in Queens.

Coming in following the 2023 merger of St. Margaret and St. Gabriel, Kruczek said he brings no preconceptions and “a fresh set of eyes” to the table. His vision moving forward is to unify the school community. 

Prior to the school year, he said he has met with all of the school’s faculty and staff, the parent leadership and other groups of parents, and he said the general message he’s received is everyone is excited.

“There’s a palpable excitement, there’s a positive energy about the community and you would never know that a merger happened,” Kruczek said. 

He acknowledged a merger is hard for all involved parties but said he’s looking forward to building up the school and the surrounding community. 

Kruczek has already met with the new pastor of St. Margaret of Cortona, Father Seán Connolly.

“The parish is going to take a very active role in the life of the school,” Kruczek said. 

According to Kruczek, Father Connolly has already expressed interest in coming to the school to greet parents and students on their way in. The parish and Kruczek together are looking forward to implementing a weekly pastoral presence. 

With the upcoming memorial in remembrance of those who perished in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the school will also hold a prayer service. 

In terms of adding his own touch to the new school, Kruczek said he’s excited about adding a walkathon to the events. The tradition is one he took part in at his last school, and he believed it brought the community together and allowed space for both parent volunteers and fundraising for the school. 

He said some of the parents coming over from St. Gabriel’s enjoyed the idea of the walkathon as the school once held its own, making it a new event for the merged school but a familiar comfort for Kruczek and St. Gabriel School families. 

“I felt at home the second I entered the doors, and more so now that I’ve met so many supportive community members,” Kruczek said. 

He shared one story about venturing into Yohan’s Deli and Grocery and the owner immediately recognizing him as the new principal of the school across the street and welcoming him into the fold with open arms. 

Kruczek said he’s been met with this level of support by everyone who’s come into contact with him, including parents and members of the parish. 

Though he’s eager for the transition, Kruczek said he’ll have one little helper making the journey with him, his daughter, who will also attend the school once classes start.