Dan Garrison the unofficial door holder.

If you've attended a school Mass this past year, chances are you've been greeted by a familiar face before you ever stepped inside the church.

For many, Dan Garrison has become the unofficial door holder, a quiet presence welcoming students, families, and parishioners with a smile. It's a role he naturally stepped into during his first year as Vice Principal at St. Thomas More, one that perfectly reflects the kind of leader he is: observant, intentional, and happiest serving behind the scenes. But there are a few things you might not know about him.

He's a musician. Away from school, Dan plays guitar in the honky-tonk band The Bluebird Ramblers, performing classic country favorites from Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley to Buck Owens. Music has been part of his life since childhood and remains one of his greatest passions.

He's building a family dream. Dan is currently building a log cabin on family land in the Ozarks, a dream inspired by the hand-built cabin where generations of his family lived before him. While this version includes a few more modern conveniences (at his wife's request!), it represents his deep appreciation for family, tradition, and legacy.

He's growing in his faith every day. Although Dan isn't Catholic, faith has always been central to his life. His wife is Catholic, and attending Mass with her sparked a desire to learn more about the Church. Today, he begins each morning in prayer using the Hallow app, has completed The Bible in a Year with Father Mike and is now journeying through The Catechism in a Year. His commitment reminds us that faith is less about having all the answers and more about remaining open to where God is leading.

After 26 years in education, Dan stepped into leadership at St. Thomas More with a wealth of experience, but also with the humility to continue learning. Reflecting on his first year, he is most proud of introducing a school-wide behavior intervention system that brings consistency to every classroom, helping students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. He also treasures the relationships he's built with our youngest students, celebrating their growing confidence throughout the year. Lastly, he values the opportunity to encourage teachers by sharing instructional strategies and best practices developed over more than two decades in education.

When asked to describe his first year at St. Thomas More, one word comes to mind: refreshing. He speaks of respectful students, a staff eager to grow, and a parish community that genuinely lives its faith. It's that spirit of community and his quiet commitment to serving it that continues to shape his leadership.

⁣Sometimes the strongest leaders aren't the loudest voices in the room. Sometimes they're the ones holding the door open, welcoming everyone inside.