DAVID LIMA

John Paul II Catholic School’s New President
Leading with Heart

story by HEATHER STEINBERGER          photos by CHARLOTTE BERKELY

Every Thursday, David Lima stands in the light-filled lobby of John Paul II Catholic School, so he can fist-bump or high-five every kid who walks through the front doors, exchanging a few words with each one. Music often fills the air, and Super Soakers have been known to appear.

David is the new president at the 13-year-old private school in Okatie. He occasionally serves as a substitute teacher in the classroom, and he tries to be in the stands at sporting events as often as possible.

“I want a connection with every child,” he says. “They need to know their lives matter, that each of them has a purpose. Down the road, they might not remember a math equation, but they will remember how you made them feel.”

For him, connection lies at the heart of Catholic education, and he is committed to making that education the best it can possibly be.

His conviction is personal. As a boy, David struggled in school and experienced bullying. His high school guidance counselor told him not to bother aiming for college.

“I’ve worked hard to prove him wrong,” he reflects softly. “And my goal in life is to never make any kid feel that way.”

In pursuit of that goal, David embarked on a remarkable journey — from his Catholic school roots in the Northeast, through years as a teacher and principal, to unexpected government service. Each step deepened what became a lifelong mission.
And that mission ultimately brought him here, to the Lowcountry.

David’s own Catholic school journey began decades ago in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he was born and raised. He and his wife both attended St. Mary’s School, a private Catholic school for children in kindergarten to eighth grade.

“I proposed in preschool, but she said no,” David remembers, grinning. “Fortunately for me, 20 years later, she changed her answer.”

After he graduated from Coyle & Cassidy High School, a private Catholic school based in Taunton, Massachusetts, David earned his bachelor’s degree in history at New York’s Syracuse University and master’s degree in public administration (MPA) from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts. He became a high school history teacher and academic support counselor.
Then came Sept. 11, 2001, and everything changed.

“My dad was a command sergeant major in the Army for 30 years,” David says. “I wasn’t able to join the military, but I felt called to serve. I wanted to make sure something like 9/11 could never happen again.”

That calling led to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he would spend the next 12 years. David first became a Transportation Security Administration screener at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and his family relocated to Texas.
“Then they found out I was a teacher,” he recalls with a laugh.

He became a training specialist for multiple airports, managing 13 instructors and 2,000 officers, and then advanced to aviation transportation security inspector. Along the way, he became an expert on national security policy and later served as a program analyst, rewriting curriculum for inspectors across the nation.

David came to a fork in the road when he learned he could continue his DHS work in Washington, D.C., as a legislative affairs specialist, serving as a liaison between Congress and the TSA. This would require David, his wife and their four children to relocate yet again, this time to Virginia.

While on the commuter train between Arlington and Quantico, he often prayed the Liturgy of the Hours. Over time, those prayers clarified a new calling.

He realized that as much as he valued his work in national security, his heart was still with the young people in the classroom. That realization would set him on the path back to Catholic education.

He accepted a teaching position at St. William of York Catholic School in Stafford, Virginia.

“I taught math, history and English, and it was incredible,” he says. “A year later, my pastor asked me to apply to be the new principal.”

David decided to take the leap. He applied, got the position, and dove into the administrative side of education. He says he loved every minute of it.

The Covid pandemic would prove to be another catalyst for change in David’s life, however, just as 9/11 had been two decades before. In 2021, he took a position with the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia, overseeing the accreditation of 44 schools in keeping with both state and Catholic education standards.

“I was responsible for the accreditation process and all certifications for both teachers and principals,” he explains. “I also taught an eighth grade history class every day. I had to follow my own policies, and that 50 minutes every day was blocked off for the kids.”

The commute was a killer, though — an hour in the morning, and often more than three hours in the evening. David says it was awful and unsustainable, so when the position of president opened up at a Catholic school for grades 6 to 12 in the South Carolina Lowcountry, he leaped at the opportunity.

“The weather is definitely better here,” he says. “And believe it or not, so is the traffic! I couldn’t wait. You can make such a difference in kids’ lives when you see them every day. I missed the interaction with them and their families.”

As dedicated as David is to Catholic education, he admits it has its challenges.

“We have to fund this ourselves, and we have to find quality teachers who are dedicated to their mission,” he says. “It can be hard to find like-minded people who understand that this is not just a job. It’s a vocation.

“My goal is to form the whole child, mind and spirit,” he adds. “I want them to leave us as good citizens and good Christians.”
Clearly, JPII’s formula is working. Its enrollment currently stands at 420 and could go higher, but the school’s existing facilities are at capacity.

“Kids want to come here,” David says. “And the area is growing at such a fast rate.”

The school is currently in the midst of a $20 million capital campaign to build a new high school at its 88-acre campus. At press time, it was just $3.8 million short of its goal, with plans to break ground in January.

The nearly net-zero energy building will provide state-of-the-art engineering and science labs, art spaces, Advanced Placement classrooms and more. In addition, two rooms will open up to create a seminar space for more than 100 students.

“I’m excited about the outdoor access for the classrooms,” David adds. “The science labs, for example, have big garage doors — the kids can do experiments outside.”

He says he is grateful to the donors who have stood by the school through all the ups and downs of the design and construction process.

“They have been so patient, especially since we have to work with the Diocese of Charleston to get approvals for all this,” he explains. “They all are working closely with us. We have a great finance committee too.”

Plans are in the works to evolve the school’s sports side, as well.

In addition to a soccer field, JPII will soon have a new football field, which will host both football and lacrosse. It’s already taking shape.

“The sand is coming for the field, and the goal posts are ready to go up,” David says. “We have a separate campaign to raise funds for the bleachers and the scoreboards, and the Booster Club is working on getting us a costume for our mascot, Maximus.”
The school also is developing a cross-country trail. David says he anticipates that it will be completed in November.

“As far as I know, we’re one of the only schools in the area that has a trail on their campus,” he says. “That’s exciting. We want to bring all our athletics home for the next school year. It’s all about school spirit.”

That spirit is already high going into October. A big Homecoming celebration is planned with a bonfire, pep rally, Pumpkin Patch and dance for all students, grades 6 to 12.

Since he just moved to the area in February, David says he is looking forward to his first Lowcountry fall and winter. When asked what he loves most about life here, he is thoughtful.

“No. 1, the food is incredible,” he says. “No. 2, the weather! We are beach people. No. 3, the traffic — D.C. was so bad. And No. 4, the people are so kind.”

Looking back, David sees every twist in his path as preparation for this role in this special place. In the end, he says, Catholic education isn’t just what he does for a living. It’s part of who he is.

Giving Back Through Sports

President David Lima isn’t the only new face at John Paul II Catholic School this year. On June 1, Maryland native Tom Smith stepped into the role of athletic director.

His road to Beaufort was a winding one. A landscape architect and urban planner by profession, Tom served as chief of planning in Annapolis, Maryland, for 30 years, raising his family in the waterfront city.

After retiring, he joined the team at St. Mary’s High School as athletic director. It was a good fit — he’d been the school’s cross-country coach for 12 years, and he and his family were parishioners at St. Mary’s for more than three decades.
“I thought it would be the perfect retirement job,” he says. “I loved the school and loved the parish.”

About a year into the job, Tom was traveling through the Lowcountry and decided to visit Habersham. That quick stop turned out to be life-changing.

“I’d read about Habersham for 20 years,” he remembers. “I spent just 10 minutes in the coffee shop and realized this was the place for us. I called my wife and told her we needed to start looking at houses.”

He also searched for a way to fill his time as a new Lowcountry resident. He discovered JPII and immediately was at home.
“There were parallels to St. Mary’s,” he says. “Similar size, same values. That really appealed to me. I thought maybe I could volunteer or coach. Then the high school principal, Heather Rembold, asked if I might be interested in employment.”

After a pause, he adds, “I felt led here.”

Since he started as athletic director, David asked him to help with the school’s master plan. Tom says he is excited to be able to use his background to implement the next phases —and he is excited to be working with the kids.

“JPII is going through a transition to ultimately compete at the 4A level, and the master plan includes facilities for student athletes,” he explains. “It’s important, because so many life lessons are learned through sports.”

For Tom, that truth comes from his own lived experience.

“I had an incredible cross-country coach in high school,” he remembers. “Forty-five years later, we’re still friends. I’ve had a long athletic career, and now it’s give-back time.”

That spirit of service has found the perfect home at JPII.

“The people here are truly amazing,” he says. “They are such kind souls who are a pleasure to be around. I don’t have to be here. I get to be here.”