From the Head of School’s Office: An Introduction

A Message from Jon McGee

Dear Parents,

Having now had a few weeks to get settled in, I want to formally introduce myself. On July 1, I became the Head of School at Saint John’s Prep. After more than 20 years at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, and a career spent in higher education, it is an enormous privilege to take on this role here and now. As the first non-monastic head of school in 162 years, it is also deeply humbling.

I have been asked by many people, what does a Head of School do and what will you do? The first word in the Rule of Benedict is “Listen,” a powerful first instruction. But we too frequently lose site of the Rule’s second word, “carefully.” As a leader, and as a Prep parent for more than a decade, I expect to listen carefully to the values, commitments, needs, and aspirations that have shaped and continue to shape this amazing school as we work together to define its future. In doing that, I expect to see, meet, and listen to parents.

 

I also promise a strong commitment to excellence and aspiration in support of our students’ experience. We will lead with a forward cast, continuously reimagining the education we provide as we prepare our students for lives of purpose, achievement, and service. Our leadership team has already begun discussing how to capture ideas and bring them to life. It’s exciting work. Please stay tuned to learn about ways to engage this creative process. We will need your input and support, and you can expect regular communication from us.

Thirty-nine photographs that hang in the hallway outside of my office, all of them headmasters at Saint John’s Prep, represent the enduring commitment of Saint John’s Abbey to the Prep School and to the students we educate: 16 decades and 9 generations of education in the Catholic Benedictine tradition. They reflect the wholesale manifestation of stability, “to stand firm in one’s promises” (RB 58). The values that founded Prep continue to animate the soul and life of the school. They will inform our choices and commitments going forward.

 

Most of all, I want to say thank you for choosing the Prep School for your children. We are keenly aware that you have many other choices. Like you, my wife, Ann, and I have had very high expectations for the school to deliver an exceptional and transformational experience for our four children. Moving forward, we expect to deliver on – and even exceed – those expectations.

I look forward to seeing and meeting you in the coming weeks and months!

With gratitude,

Jon McGee
Head of School
jmcgee@sjprep.net
320-363-3316