THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 44, NO. 12 | OCTOBER 28, 2022
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Dan Norman, a parishioner at St. John Paul II Parish in Olathe, works with Holy Name of Jesus School first grader Annabelle Alumbaugh and second grader Mateo Ocegueda on their new Chromebooks. Norman has been instrumental in getting Holy Name in Kansas City, Kansas, the latest technology and infrastructure.
THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF TECHNOLOGY
Dan Norman helps get Holy Name of Jesus School up to speed BY MOIRA CULLINGS
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — It started with the Wi-Fi. A few years ago, Dan Norman, a parishioner at St. John Paul II Parish in Olathe, was searching for technology-related volunteer work. He asked Father Andrew Strobl, pastor of Holy Name Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, at the time, if he knew of any opportunities. Father Strobl told Norman that Holy Name of Jesus School needed help with some Wi-Fi problems. “Wi-Fi problems was an understatement,” said Norman with a laugh. When Norman got to the school, he realized its technology issues were much more daunting. But he was eager to help. Since that initial visit in 2016, Norman has rewired the entire school, replaced old computers with Chromebooks and helped with several small projects. “Dan has been a true godsend for our
school,” said Holy Name principal Randy Smith. “His knowledge and wanting what is best for our children at Holy Name does not go unnoticed.”
Tech genius Shortly after starting his volunteer work at Holy Name, Norman joined the school’s business team — a community of volunteers from around the archdiocese who use their talents to serve the school. Holy Name’s business team is a product of the archdiocesan School Advancement Program (SAP), which was developed to assist schools — especially those in rural and urban areas — with enrollment and sustainability. The archdiocese currently has nine SAP schools, and business teams like the one at Holy Name have helped them not only survive but thrive thanks to volunteers like Norman. >> See “VOLUNTEER” on page 4