Principals & Vice-Principals

Mr. M. Daly, Principal

B.Sc. (Boston University)

Mark Daly was born to James and Margaret Daly and, with his two brothers Kevin and Brian, grew up on the West Mountain of Hamilton. A product of the HWCDSB, Mr. Daly attended St. Teresa of Avila CES and graduated from Cathedral Boys’ High School in 1988. Mr. Daly earned a Basketball Scholarship to Boston University where he played four years of NCAA Division I Basketball.

While a Terrier at BU, Mr. Daly earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education, and met his future wife Rowena who is currently an elementary Principal at St. Agnes CES. During his basketball career, Mr. Daly was Team Captain at BU and participated in the 1990 NCAA Tournament Championship. He was named an NCAA Academic All-America, was a 1992 Rhodes Scholar Finalist, represented Canada at the 1990 Pan-American Games, and played professional basketball for the Hamilton Skyhawks of the now defunct World Basketball League.

Mr. Daly’s Mathematics teaching career began in the Halton Catholic District School Board, where he taught for 5 ½ years at St. Thomas Aquinas CSS in Oakville, Ontario. He then taught at Bishop Ryan CSS for 2 ½ years, and at Cathedral High School for five more years until June of 2005. Mr. Daly then served CHS as Vice-Principal for 4 years before being appointed Principal of St. Jean de Brébeuf CSS in September of 2009. Throughout his career, Mr. Daly coached Senior Boys’ Basketball with both of his brothers winning numerous championships. Many of his former players went on to successful athletic and academic careers at the University and Professional levels.

After six enjoyable years at SJB, Mr. Daly returned to Cathedral in September of 2015 where he currently serves as Principal. Mr. Daly’s father James was previously Principal of Cathedral Boys’ High School from 1981-1985.

Mr. Daly and his wife are proud parents of four children: Miranda, Colin, Andrew and Sarah. Mr. Daly, his father, brothers, and all of his children either currently attend or have graduated from CHS.

Mr. Daly thanks God for all of his life’s blessing, and considers it an honor to serve the staff and students of Cathedral High School.

Mrs. Christina Groppo - Vice Principal

B.A. Honours (McMaster University), B. of Ed (D’Youville)

Mrs. Groppo believes strongly in Catholic Education. She is a product of the HWCDSB, attending St. Luke Elementary School and Bishop Ryan High School. Mrs. Groppo pursued her post-secondary education at McMaster University for four years, studying History and English Literature from 2001-2005. After receiving her Honours BA from McMaster University, she pursued her vocation – teaching. Mrs. Groppo graduated from the Teacher Education Program at D’Youville College in 2005.

She was eager to begin her career and in February 2006, she became an occasional teacher for the Halton Catholic District School Board. In the summer of 2006, Mrs. Groppo began her career in the HWCDSB at Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School as a History and English teacher. She became a permanent teacher at Bishop Tonnos in 2007 and continued to teach English there from 2007-2014. While teaching at Bishop Tonnos, Mrs. Groppo coached midget and junior girls volleyball, was a member of the Graduation Committee and was Literacy Chair of the in-school Literacy and System Literacy Committees.

In 2014, Mrs. Groppo had the opportunity to pursue her combined passion for learning and strong desire to help English Language Learners in a new position at the HWCDSB as the ESL/ELD STEP Assessment and Program Support Teacher. For the next three years, Mrs. Groppo supported newcomer students at Bishop Ryan, Cardinal Newman, Bishop Tonnos and St. Mary Secondary Schools. During this time period, she was also a member of the Secondary Curriculum Department at the Nicholas Mancini Centre.

She returned to Bishop Tonnos in September 2017, to teach English. In September 2018, Mrs. Groppo he was appointed to the position of Department Head of English and Languages at Cathedral High School. While at Cathedral, Mrs. Groppo taught the EMPOWER Program, ESL/ELD courses, and took on the role as the ELL Support Teacher. In August 2019, Mrs. Groppo was appointed to the position of Vice-Principal at Cathedral. She feels so blessed to be able to continue her love for education at Cathedral High School and feels so fortunate to work with CHS students and staff.

Mrs. C. Defend-Ionico, Vice-Principal

B.A. (Toronto - St. Michael's College); B.Ed. (Toronto)

Mrs. Defend-Ionico grew up in Toronto where she attended to Madonna High School. She continued her education at the University of Toronto, St Michael’s College, where she received an Honours Bachelor's of Arts degree and a Bachelor's of Education degree from the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto. She started her teaching career with the Toronto Catholic School Board, working at Don Bosco Secondary School with the Salesian Fathers. She moved to the Hamilton-area and has worked at St Mary’s and Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary Schools as a Business and Co-op teacher. In 2010, Mrs. Defend-Ionico was appointed Vice Principal at St Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School. Three years later, she became Vice-Principal of Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary.

Mrs. Defend-Ionico is excited to be at Cathedral High School and is passionate about student success in education. Her office is located within the Attendance Office on the main level of the building.

Mr. K. John, Vice-Principal

Honours B.A. (McMaster University), B. Ed (University of Toronto)

Mr. John is a graduate of St. Patrick’s Catholic Elementary School then moved onto Cathedral boys Highschool from which he graduated in 1986. Mr. John moved onto his studies at McMaster University and attended the University of Toronto to complete his teacher training.

Mr. John started his teaching career in the Grand Erie board but his love of the city brought him back to Hamilton where he became a Gael once again teaching Physical Education and Art. Mr. John taught at Cathedral from 1997-2002 where he coached the Senior and Junior badminton teams and led several teams to OFSAA. Mr. John was also part of a team of staff who founded the Cathedral Annex which has served Cathedral students and the greater community for many years.

Mr. John left to become a Vice Principal at St. Jean de Brebeuf then St. Thomas More and Cardinal Newman and is now excited to be back at his home, Cathedral High school. Mr. John is looking forward to once again being part of the Cathedral community.