CHANGING OF THE GUARD

IC Catholic Prep’s new President, Bob Cronin, takes the helm.

BY

PHOTO BY VICTOR HILITSKI

Vested. It’s the word to des cribe Bob Cronin, the new president of IC Catholic College Prep (ICCP). A familiar face around campus, Cronin and his wife, Beverly, (the preschool teacher at Immaculate Conception Grade School next door), sent four children through IC’s grade school and high school. After a successful career in business, Cronin, himself a graduate of the Elmhurst landmark, is right where he wanted to land.

AND IT’S WHERE HE PLANS TO STAY.

The affinity Cronin has found with the students is palpable. For him, it’s all about them. Take a walk through the school on any given day to see this mantra in action. “Are you coming to the meeting this afternoon?” Cronin rhetorically asks a student without breaking his stride through the school library. Without missing a beat, “the correct answer is yes,” he says with a smile, making eye contact over his shoulder with the student. A stroll through the cafeteria at lunch hour further illustrates this rapport. Brief- but meaningful- conversations about a student’s day, accompanied by words of encouragement- and maybe a high-five- let the high-schoolers know he’s there for them. Not just as students but as people.

As the Midwest’s last existing parish high school, ICCP’s future has been doubted by some. The advancement of the school will largely depend on his leadership. Cronin is here to dispel any myths and shore up the legacy of the institution for decades to come. This is one school in very capable hands.

CAN YOU GIVE READERS A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT YOURSELF?

I am an alumnus of ICCP class of 1978. After that, I earned a degree in accounting from The University of Notre Dame. I ran our family’s business, which is printing and promotional products. When this job opened last summer, I did some introspective thinking and decided to interview for it. I was at a place in life where I was tired of just making a living. I wanted to really make a difference. I see the position as more of a ministry than a job. This is the last career move I’m looking for in life. I want to work hard from a mission standpoint for the people involved.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL LINK TO ICCP?

My family has been parishioners for decades. I have coached various teams here for 26 years. I’ve been the track and field head coach for the past 20 years and a board member. I have served on all kinds of committees. I’m always trying to give in one way or another. Now it’s my fulltime job.

All four of my children graduated from ICCP and Notre Dame as well. My wife and I credit ICCP with much of their success. They’re all doing great things with their lives. My kids are who they are because of ICCP. The high school years are formative in the lives of young people. I have been offered many opportunities at the university level. But it never struck a passion in me to raise money for them. When I look at ICCP, though, I see that the need is here.

HOW DOES YOUR ROLE AS PRESIDENT AFFECT THE ACADEMIC STRUCTURE?

Our model is that the principal is the academic officer of the institution, while the president is the business officer. My mission is to make a better learning environment in any way possible for our students by updating educational and athletic facilities for them. Furthering their educational opportunities through providing the right resources is a large part of my job.

HOW IS ICCP DIFFERENT FROM OTHER AREA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS?

We’re a very diverse student body; much more so than when I attended. That makes for a tight-knit school that appreciates everybody for who they are. There’s a cultural adaptation of excellence. A percentage of our students start in grade school and stay all the way through high school. The bonds built through spending grade school and high school together last a lifetime. But that’s not all of our students. Many join us at the high school level, and we’re very glad to have them as well. HOW

DOES CATHOLICISM PLAY INTO THE CURRICULUM?

It’s a notable part of our curriculum. We open and close each day in prayer as a community. Students take theology classes every year. We have all-school masses monthly and on holy days and other special events, which the students plan. Our teachers bring forth Catholic values every day in the classroom. They truly lead by example.

DO YOU ENVISION INCREASING ENROLLMENT?

We’re currently at about 365 students. Ideally, we would like to raise that number to about 400. We’re anticipating about 100 incoming freshmen this fall. That would put us in step one toward that goal. A school this size leans toward a more personal atmosphere. We want to be a place where everyone knows each other’s names and people care about each other as individuals. We love the ability to create and maintain personal relationships.

We’re also working on different ways to tie the alumni back to the school. A lot of that has been fostered through athletics. We had an incredibly successful fall athletic season. Our golf team took third in the state, volleyball took second, and our football team won the state championship! Athletics seem to be a natural avenue to draw alumni back. Students, parents of our students, alumni, and teachers become engaged. Everyone jumping on board and rallying together to support our teams builds camaraderie.

WHAT DO ICCP STUDENTS HAVE IN COMMON?

We’re looking for young people who are willing to work hard. We are a college prep, so our students are on track to attend college and most are accepted to the school of their first choice. We also want well-rounded students. Almost all our students participate in sports and clubs and extra-curriculars. We are also looking for students who can live in a Catholic school environment, as we believe it is for the betterment of all who attend.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW ABOUT ICCP?

For decades, there has been speculation that ICCP will go away. We’re here to stay, to grow and to do wonderful things for our students, alumni, and the community of Elmhurst as a whole.

Winston Churchill, another great leader, often said, “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” This mantra is alive, well, and lived daily in the office of Bob Cronin.■