Principal's Welcome Message
My name is Christina Groppo, and I am honoured to serve as the Principal of Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School. As a proud graduate of Bishop Ryan (Class of 2000), it is a privilege to return home to lead this incredible school community.
Bishop Joseph Francis Ryan, our school’s namesake, served as the Bishop of Hamilton from 1937 to 1973. He was a devoted shepherd who strengthened Catholic education and championed opportunities for young people across the diocese. His vision for Catholic schools as places of faith, learning, and community continues to inspire us today. As an alumna of Bishop Ryan, and now as its Principal, I feel especially connected to his legacy and deeply committed to carrying forward his mission of forming students who live their faith with courage and conviction.
After graduating from Bishop Ryan, I attended McMaster University, where I completed my undergraduate degree in History with a minor in English. My teaching career began in 2006 at Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School, where I taught History and English.
From 2014–2017, I served as the ESL/ELD Initial STEP Assessor and Program Support Teacher. In this role, I developed board procedures aligned with English Language Learner (ELL) policy, facilitated professional development workshops for secondary teachers across the HWCDSB, and collaborated as part of the Secondary Curriculum Team. During this time, I discovered my passion for equity in education and the importance of building partnerships with our wider community.
In 2018–2019, I became the English/Languages Department Head at Cathedral High School, followed by my first administrative role as Vice-Principal at Cathedral in September 2019. I served in this role until June 2022 before moving to St. Jean de Brébeuf Catholic Secondary School as Vice-Principal for the next two years. In September 2024, I returned to Cathedral as Vice-Principal before being called to serve as Acting Principal of Bishop Ryan in March 2025. It is now with great honour that I step into the role of Permanent Principal of Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School.
My education and career experiences have prepared me for this moment, and I feel truly blessed to serve this community. I believe that every student deserves to learn in a school that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive, where their gifts are nurtured and their voices are valued. At the same time, I believe it is essential that we continue to foster our Catholic identity in all that we do — bearing witness to our faith through prayer, service, and a commitment to Gospel values. This includes nurturing the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations, which guide our shared mission of forming students who live out their faith while striving for excellence in learning and in life.
Together, we will ensure that Bishop Ryan remains a community where faith, belonging, and excellence are at the heart of everything we do.
As the prophet Isaiah reminds us:
“Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8
I believe I have been called to this role to support our students, families, and staff, and I look forward to working together to ensure that Bishop Ryan continues to be a place of faith, learning, and excellence for all.