Thomas Imburgia

Thomas J. Imburgia

Cardinal O’Hara High School

Making the transition from research scientist to high school teacher may seem like quite the task, but for Thomas J. Imburgia this was no challenge at all. As a lover of science and a product of the Diocesan school system, Imburgia sees this career change as one that brought him home.

For the past nine years, 9th through 12th grade students at Cardinal O’Hara High School have been privileged to learn from Mr. Imburgia. His ongoing enthusiasm for science is indeed what makes his classroom unique. Not only does he attempt to incorporate science into the everyday lives of his students, but he also strives to connect them to the material through hands on activities, such as replicating DNA with models or seeing how a nerve cell functions during an in-class experiment.

While Mr. Imburgia loves the subject matter, it is interaction with his students that ranks top on his list. “Teaching across all grade levels has given me the opportunity to watch students grow and mature into the adults they are destined to become, and to feel as though I have some hand in that destiny, “ Mr. Imburgia says. “The Catholic school environment has always been more of a family, not simply a collection of students born the same year. I’m the most fortunate person I know to be a part of it.”

Mr. Imburgia plays a large role outside the classroom, serving as co-moderator of the Hi-Q Academic team and member of the NHS Faculty Council.  He is also a Kairos retreat leader and Senior Union Delegate.

In his free time, Mr. Imburgia enjoys reading, cooking, watching his teenage daughter swim competitively, and having scientific conversations with his wife. He is also a huge Star Trek fan, and is not embarrassed to say that he has been to few conventions.