Pius XI Catholic High School Announces Next President

(MILWAUKEE, WI) JANUARY 21, 2026 – The board of directors of Pius XI Catholic High School is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Tom Mlada as the school’s fourth president, effective July 1, 2026. A search committee comprised of school leaders, board members, Archdiocesan officials, and education advisors conducted the comprehensive search. Upon a unanimous recommendation by the board of directors, the appointment was formally confirmed by the Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob, Archbishop of Milwaukee.

“Tom is a dynamic and impressive leader who possesses the faith commitment and institutional understanding necessary to guide Pius XI into its second century,” said Board Chair Joan Shafer ‘71, Retired, Executive Vice President – WEC Energy Group. “While we had the privilege of interviewing many outstanding candidates, we believe Tom is best equipped to lead our community forward with the integrity, faith, and collaborative spirit necessary to inspire students, faculty and staff, alumni, and benefactors alike. We truly could not be more excited for the future of Pius XI.”

Mlada, who is currently serving as athletic director at Dominican High School, will succeed Jack Herbert who is retiring on June 30, 2026, after serving as president for 8 years.

“It is truly the honor of a lifetime to be invited to serve as president of Pius XI Catholic High School, and have the opportunity to help this special community build upon its storied history and legacy of Catholic educational excellence,” said Mlada, a devout Catholic and parishioner at St. Francis Borgia in Cedarburg. “I am genuinely grateful for the trust and confidence of the school staff, search committee, board of directors, and Archbishop Grob, and I am excited to join with them in leading Pius XI forward.”

Mlada received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in economics, with an environmental policy concentration from St. Norbert College and a professional certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience across Catholic education, nonprofit advancement, and public service, with demonstrated strength in development, stewardship, enrollment growth, and strategic planning. His service as Director of Development and Stewardship at St. Monica Parish and School resulted in measurable growth in enrollment, annual giving, and endowment resources, and earned Exemplary Recognition from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for advancement, marketing, and recruitment. His subsequent executive leadership in mission-driven nonprofit organizations, along with his service as Mayor of Port Washington from 2012 – 2018, reflects a proven ability to unite diverse stakeholders around shared mission, vision, and values.

Mlada is the proud father of three daughters and one son. His wife of 27 years, Kathy, serves as Vice President of Global Human Resource Operations for Johnson Controls. He has served as President of the Metro Classic Conference Athletic Directors and was elected a member of the Archdiocese’s Catholic Schools Advancement Association Leadership Team, in addition to holding Board positions with the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, Western Great Lakes Bird & Bat Observatory, and Catholic Ecology Center (Laudato Si Project).

About Pius XI Catholic High School

Founded in 1929 by the School Sisters of St. Francis and the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers, Pius XI Catholic High School offers a faith-based education of extraordinary breadth and quality that is grounded in the traditions of those founding orders. Today, Pius XI is Milwaukee’s and Southeastern Wisconsin’s most diverse co-educational Catholic high school, serving a student body of nearly 700 students. Pius XI’s college preparatory programming provides students with:

• Advanced Placement courses
• A nationally-recognized, four-year Fine Arts program
• A four-year Project Lead the Way Engineering program
• A Special Studies program with certified special education teachers for students with learning disabilities

Pius XI offers 25 athletic programs and more than 25 co-curricular activities. In 2025, the 89th graduating class earned more than $20 million in scholarship and awards. For more information visit http://www.piusxi.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.