De La Salle North Catholic High School (DLSNC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Bartha as its next principal. Bartha replaces Deirdre Perkins, who stepped down this winter due to a family move abroad. The appointment is effective as of July 1, 2025.
Bartha comes to DLSNC from the Franklin Road Academy in Nashville, TN, and has more than 15 years of experience in academics, both in leadership as well as the classroom. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Bartha was educated at Catholic schools growing up before he went to Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME. He was the first member of his family to graduate from college and subsequently continued his studies with an MA in Education Leadership from Christian Brothers University (CBU), a Lasallian institution in Memphis, TN.
DLSNC President Ashleigh de Villiers said, “I was thrilled by the amount of interest the job posting generated and the thorough candidate interview process that included staff, faculty, students, and a full-day school visit. Michael’s zeal for the art and science of teaching, his student-centered approach to instruction, and his proven results in teacher development made him the clear choice to be DLSNC’s next principal. With previous experience teaching in schools serving a similar student population and his academic leadership, Michael is at heart a builder. I am so excited to watch Michael craft our academic program in support of the success of our students."
Bartha’s affinity for the Lasallian mission and his strong desire to “empower both DLSNC students and its educators to achieve their full potential” has him geared up to launch into his new role. As principal, he will provide instructional and academic leadership, guide curriculum and instruction, coach teachers and foster their development, and serve as a faith leader in the DLSNC school community. Bartha shared, “It was really impactful for me to experience at CBU the overwhelming desire of Lasallian educators to do good. They’re not just about providing a good education but providing a good education to the less fortunate.”
Prior to his current position as K-12 Director of Mathematics at Franklin Road Academy, Bartha served as assistant principal and principal in two Nashville-area charter schools for a total of four years. Although Bartha was a history major at Bowdoin, his teaching passion has been math, and he has extensive classroom experience in that area, including four years in an underserved Memphis high school. Bartha also has a private consulting practice for schools and education non-profits.
Bartha concluded, “When you ask people what makes your school special, the number one answer is the culture and the relationships built there. In my career, De La Salle is probably the first school that what I was told before visiting truly matched up with what I experienced when I entered the building. Even as an outsider, I could see it’s a really special place with so many pieces already locked in for it to reach higher potentials.”
Bartha will be relocating to Portland this summer with his wife, Shifra, and young son, Oliver. They are looking forward to making the City of Roses their home and to being on the West Coast.
