Brother Thomas J. Cleary, S.M. has served as President of Chaminade High School since 2011. A native of Massapequa and one of eight children, he graduated from Chaminade in 1981 and immediately entered the Society of Mary (Marianists), the religious order that founded and sponsors the school.
Brother Thomas earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Hofstra University and has taught both English and religion at Chaminade. In 1992, he was appointed Dean of Students, a position he held for 18 years while continuing to teach. Throughout his years at Chaminade, he has also served as a guidance counselor, senior divisional moderator, Student-Athlete Leadership Program moderator, Culinary Club moderator, and campus landscaping director. Within the Marianist Province of Meribah, he has held numerous leadership roles, including Director of the Chaminade Community and Provincial Superior.
Since becoming President, Brother Thomas has led one of the most significant periods of growth in Chaminade’s history, including the construction of a new athletic stadium, retreat center, and the Dolan Family Science, Technology, and Research Center—a 54,000-square-foot, $28 million facility that transformed STEM education on campus. Under his leadership, the school has also undertaken a comprehensive renewal of its academic program and launched an ambitious campus master plan that will carry Chaminade into its second century.
Brother Thomas is active in several Long Island organizations. He is a former Chairman of the Board of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, serves on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (LICADD), and is a member of the Molloy University Business School Advisory Board. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, gardening, and fitness, and has completed ten marathons, including the 2025 New York City Marathon in 3:32.