Tom began his tenure at The Heights in 1979. Over the years, he has taught grades four through twelve in the disciplines of English and Religion, held various administrative positions, and was appointed Assistant Headmaster in 1998. Tom holds a BA in English from Providence College. He has served as Varsity and Middle School Swim Coach since 2010, and was named the Washington Metro Private School Swim and Dive League Coach of the Year in 2020, again in 2022, and WCAC Coach of the Year also in 2022. Tom and his wife, Cecilia, have eight children, four daughters and four sons. All four sons are graduates from The Heights: Fr. Andrew Royals in 1997, current pastor at St. Joseph’s in Southern Maryland with the Archdiocese of Washington, DC; Thomas J. Royals in 2003, a USNA graduate, retired Naval officer; James M. Royals in 2007, also a USNA graduate and retired Naval officer; and John P. Royals in 2012, an assistant project manager for Rosendin Electric. Tom and Cecilia have twenty-four grandchildren.