Principal

My name is Jim McMains and I have been principal for the past four years. We have made some great strides in several area which include increased enrollment, establishment of a PTO and Marketing Team, and network of alumni and friends to support our school. As we continue to move forward we give children from the inner city a chance to become empowered adults to give back to the St. Michael’s community.

I come to St. Michael with 37 years of experience in education mostly in public school system as I spent 33 years in the Whittier City School District as a teacher or vice-principal. I have also been involved with the Catholic schools as my two sons attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Downey and one graduated from Bosco Tech High School and the other from Loyola High School. My wife is the current principal of  Our Lady of Perpetual Help and has been for 20 years.

I am a native Californian as I was born in Compton and lived most of my life in Downey. I attended the public schools in Downey and graduated from Warren High School in 1965. After graduation I was drafted into the Marine Corp and spent three years serving our country i Vietnam for my last year. I was trained as a scout dog handler and worked with many Marine operations during 1968-1969. After completing my tour I was discharged and returned to Cerritos Community College. I played football for two years and transferred to Whittier College to continue playing football. I graduated from Whittier in 1974 and started the same year at Sorensen Elementary where I stayed until I retired in 2007.

I am a true believer in Catholic schools as they educate the whole child not just the academic side of life. Here at St. Michaels I hope to carry on the great tradition of the Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose. Their great work over the past 103 years is an inspiration to me that with prayer and hard work we will grow.