Principal Locquiao invites all to partner with God in Catholic education

Ask Jay Locquiao, the new principal of St. Francis Cathedral School, why he chose to leave his career in public school teaching to embark on the road to Catholic school leadership, and you’ll hear him give praise to the Almighty.

“I believe it was a calling by God to make the transition,” he said. “I believe the mission of Catholic education is to deliver an academically rigorous instruction and mutually form a relationship with Jesus Christ that transforms their lives.”

Partnering in this mission is the Metuchen elementary school’s extended family of staff, teachers, aides and others, he continued.

“We are committed to the development of our students’ spiritual and intellectual formation. We deliver a unique and profound educational experience that meets the needs of all of our students, and provides a daily encounter with Jesus Christ.” Locquiao said. “We are also equally committed to developing the virtues of respect, justice, and responsibility in our students, as we prepare them to be leaders in our school and community.”

Locquiao is a 2016 graduate of Rutgers University’s School of Arts and Sciences, New Brunswick, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and minored in education. He earned a master’s degree in special and elementary education from Rutgers’ Graduate School of Education, as well as completing Rutgers’ Learning Disability Teaching Consultant Certification Program. Locquiao earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Montclair State University, Montclair, and is pursuing a doctorate in education from the University of New England, Biddeford, Maine.

Prior to joining the St. Francis Cathedral School staff, Locquiao served in the East Brunswick Public School system as a special education teacher and the Monroe Township Public School system as a learning disability teacher consultant. He served six years in Rochelle Park Township as an emergency medical technician.

Locquiao and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for four years and have a 2-1/2-year-old daughter, Nennolina. Their home parish is St. Ann’s in Raritan.

The Cathedral school, winner of a National Blue Ribbon for Excellence in 2017, currently educates nearly 440 students from PreK3 to eighth grade. Locquiao’s list of goals include “learning the rich traditions and history of the school and working with community in preparation of the school’s 100th anniversary” in 2028.

In his welcome letter to prospective parents, Loc invites all to “Come and see the life- changing experience of a vibrant and rigorous Catholic education, where the hearts and minds of our students are formed to recognize their identity as children of God, Jesus in the Eucharist, and the plan that God has for their lives.”

Support and prayers from families is also crucial; the principal continued, “We believe that your accompaniment as a parent or guardian is imperative to moving forward our mission of providing our students a joyful, transformative, and scholarly Catholic education.”

Finally, Locquiao also invites the young Catholics who wear the school uniforms emblazoned with the St. Francis Cathedral name to do their part. “Your life has a purpose,” he tells his young charges. “Cultivate your heart and mind to fulfill your calling.”