Mr. Brian Herlihy

“I love teaching children new concepts and ideas, and enjoy building a classroom of independent thinkers and learners. I believe in providing a positive and safe school environment so that every child can be a successful student and member of the community.”

Personal and Professional Background

I am from Glens Falls, NY, and grew up attending mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. I attended Glens Falls High School and earned my Bachelor’s Degree from the State University of New York at Cortland. While at Cortland, I played on the men’s ice hockey team for my four years of college. After graduating from Cortland, I moved to Raleigh, NC to pursue a teaching career.  I taught for seven years as a kindergarten teacher in the Wake County Public School System.  In Raleigh, I met my wife, Adria (Matonak), who is a graduate of Butler Catholic.  I was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was married in Sacred Heart Cathedral.  I moved to Butler with my wife to be closer to family.

This is my ninth year at Butler Catholic School. I always encourage my students to support each other and work cooperatively while learning.  I also teach students to explore and use technology in order to more fully engage them in their own learning.

Outside the classroom, I still enjoy playing hockey when I can. I also enjoy playing golf in the spring and summer.  I love spending time with my family, especially my son and daughter, my five nieces, and one nephew.  My wife and I enjoy trying new foods and restaurants.

What Do You Feel Makes Butler Catholic Special?
I really enjoy the community and family aspect of BCS. I also enjoy starting the day off with morning prayer, as our faith is the foundation for everything we do as a school community. Butler Catholic School students are amazing, and having small class sizes allows me to provide individualized instruction for all of my students.