Photo by Manny Mata-Flores ’19 | Mr. Mica Mulloy ’99, left, speaks to Mr. Scott Heideman, right, at break Monday, Aug. 29. Mr. Mulloy is the school’s new assistant principal for technology this year.
By Andrew Howard ’17
THE ROUNDUP
Mr. Mica Mulloy ’99 took the reins as the new assistant principal for technology this August after Mr. Jim Bopp left the position to become principal at Creighton Prep. in Omaha, Neb.
Principal Mr. Bob Ryan said he was sad to see Mr. Mulloy leave the Fine Arts department, but that ultimately the new job was the perfect fit.
“He has been an outstanding chair of the Fine Arts department, he is an exemplary teacher, and he has led The Roundup to become one of the preeminent student publications in Arizona,” Mr. Ryan said in an email. “He has always been a self-starter, he is respected by his peers, he is always looking for ways to improve his own work and that of his colleagues, and he is able to manage many different responsibilities simultaneously. Most notably though for his specific role, he understands the role technology can and should play in a Jesuit school.”
Along with working with teachers and instruction, Mr. Mulloy now oversees all technology on campus: the iPad program, the wifi networks, MyBrophy and even the copy center.
Mr. Mulloy said that his time as a teacher and department chair prepared him for his new job.
“I’ve always embraced educational technology … the classes that I’ve taught would not exist without it,” he said.
Brendan Burg ’17, who took two years worth of classes with Mr. Mulloy, including AP Studio Art, said Mr. Mulloy’s classes were very technology-heavy.
“Mr. Mulloy was very tech savvy, he incorporated interactive things up on the screen and things for us to do on our iPads more than any other teacher I’ve had at Brophy,” Burg said.
Burg also said that Mr. Mulloy’s work ethic will benefit him in his new job.
“Having him in class and seeing him work as hard as he did made us want to reciprocate that hard work and effort,” he said. “I can only imagine him putting in more hard work and ramping up his game for his new job.”
Mr. Mulloy said that one of the things he finds most important for this job is connecting students to the world around them.
“How can we use technology to help connect students with the world around them, to better understand and interact and respond to the world around them?” he said.
Mr. Mulloy said he does not want to change anything right away in his new position.
“I’m not coming into a situation that’s broken or in bad shape,” he said. “I think what we do with technology on this campus is amazing. My first job is not to screw that up.”
Mr. Mulloy said that his biggest challenge will be that technology in our world is always changing, and it is hard to keep up with.
“The second we stop trying to move forward we are stagnant and we are in trouble,” he said.
Mr. Mulloy credited Mr. Bopp for helping him make the transition smoothly.
“Mr. Bopp was immensely helpful with the transition, he and I spent a lot of time together in June and he was very gracious with his time to help in the transition,” he said.
Mr. Ryan said he is looking forward to what Mr. Mulloy will accomplish in the new role.
“This year, I look forward to Mr. Mulloy’s leadership as he works with Mr. (Kevin) Elinski to expand the programs and offerings of the Innovation Commons,” he said. “Additionally, we plan to complete a self-study of sorts to determine if the iPad is still the best device for our 1:1 program at Brophy. Mr. Mulloy will lead this review process.”
