Human Resources Manager Diana Muñoz had never heard of St. Thomas High School prior to the interview process for her current role. By the end of her first campus tour, she was sold.

“The receptionists, the people that I first talked to really set the tone,” Muñoz said. “Listening to Father Murphy talk about the goals for the school and the difference we hope to make in these young men’s lives really drew me in.”

Father Jim Murphy prioritizes making that difference by also prioritizing the lives of the staff at St. Thomas.

“The more our employees feel that they’re a community and connected, the better they are demonstrating to our students the best way to live and work,” Murphy said.

Muñoz saw early on that the faculty and staff of the school are a tight-knit group, all united by the same goal of making an impact on the students. Keeping St. Thomas’ guiding principles of goodness, discipline, and knowledge in mind is another unifying factor among employees, especially those who attended the school themselves.

“I really remember what set the school apart was the number of male teachers who are alumni,” she said. “It says a lot that they all wanted to come back and teach here.”

As Human Resources Manager, Muñoz handles a wide array of HR responsibilities. Her role includes recruiting, onboarding, payroll, and managing the generous time off and benefits programs at St. Thomas. Beyond the benefits, the community at St. Thomas is what sets the school apart. Muñoz seeks to create that community each day at work.

“I really work on building trust,” she said. “Making sure people feel wanted, comfortable, and appreciated. I have to be able to find and create individualized connections.”

Building personal relationships with each employee is no small task.

“We have employees who range everywhere from having PhDs to fresh out of college. We have former doctors and attorneys who have had their careers and are now paying it forward for our students,” Muñoz said. “Managing personalities is a giant balance, but you have to appreciate the diversity we have here.”

Due to the ongoing growth in student population, each academic department has expanded by one faculty member, for a total of nine fresh new faces joining the faculty for the 2024-25 school year. A large part of the onboarding process for these new employees falls to Muñoz to coordinate.

“We assign them a buddy or mentor to show them the ropes and offer personal and professional development opportunities,” she said. “We strive to build loyalty to St. Thomas, especially in that first year. Making sure that there’s a future here for them.”

Muñoz believes that one of the hallmark experiences of working at St. Thomas happens later in the year, from January through March: the Round-Up season.

“The moment where they announce the amount of money the boys have raised is magical,” she said. “It’s almost tear-jerking to think about the outpouring of support throughout that time.”

From Round-Up to the caring employee culture, the St. Thomas journey of teaching goodness, discipline, and knowledge to its students begins at the moment of hire.

“It truly feels like it’s a family,” Muñoz said. “It’s a safe environment to come in and be yourself, and you’re appreciated for who you are.”

Father Murphy couldn’t agree more.

“When you like the people around you, know their stories, and know their people, it makes coming to work that much more pleasurable,” he said. “What we get to do is joyful stuff.”

Written by Sarah Jane Lasley