With the recent passing of Chief Advancement Officer Jeff Williams, and the increasing strategic and operational work in the office of the CEO, the Board of Trustees has asked Peter Stevens to return to his former position of Executive Officer within the office of the CEO, effective July 1. As Executive Officer, Peter will use his skills to help with management of master planning and capital projects. He will also assist where needed in such diverse activities as advancement and enrollment.

The Board recognizes this is a sudden adjustment in personnel, but we ask for the community’s support for all the departments affected by this change.

Peter has served as Head of School for the past 24 months and done an outstanding job in that role. In making this request, the Board knows that it has asked Peter to step away from a job that he loves perhaps as much as any job he has ever held.  Peter has demonstrated an exceptional ability to communicate with and seek solutions from a wide range of individuals – to ask the right questions and listen intently to the answers in order to understand, from a broad perspective, the issues confronting Principia.

The joy and reward Peter has gotten from his close interaction with the students, faculty, and educational staff is apparent in all his actions and conversation. Who could forget his warm, inspiring opening chapels and musical performances which always included side-by-side participation of students? He has done a remarkable job.

Peter’s willingness to serve and move where asked highlights his great love and humility in serving Principia. This Board would like to express great appreciation to Peter and his wife, Becky, for their flexibility of service.

Given this move, the Board has appointed Marilyn Wallace as Head of School for Principia’s St. Louis campus, effective July 1.

Marilyn is well-qualified to assume this role. Before joining Principia last summer as Assistant Head of School, Marilyn was Head of School for Quest Academy, an independent preschool-through-eighth-grade school near Chicago that was recognized as one of the United States’ top five private schools for gifted and talented students. She was a teacher for 13 years in both public and independent schools.

During this past school year, Marilyn has assisted many teachers on the St. Louis campus in exploring ways to improve differentiated instruction in their classrooms. She brings a keen insight into helping teachers meet each student’s individual need.

Marilyn (C’72) received a B.A. from Principia in music and elementary and secondary education and an M.Ed in educational leadership from National-Louis University. In 2002, Marilyn served as chairman of the independent-school accrediting evaluation team that visited the St. Louis campus. She has continued to be active with the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), conducting site visits throughout the region.

Marilyn and her husband, David (C’73), have two sons. David graduated from Principia College in 2006, and Douglas will be a freshman at the College in the fall.

After years of applying Mrs. Morgan’s ideas in other educational settings, Marilyn has a deep, thorough understanding of the Christ-idea in education. From her years as a teacher and administrator, Marilyn brings a dog-eared copy of Education at The Principia. She is well-prepared to support academic excellence at all levels on the St. Louis campus.

Please join us in welcoming Marilyn into this new role and help us express gratitude to Peter for his service as Head of School and his continuing dedication to supporting Principia.