Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Head of School to Retire in July 2017

Portrait of the Head of School as A Young Man

April 26, 2016

To the Board of Trustees of Trinity Episcopal School:

God willing, on June 30, 2017, I will complete my 30th year as a priest serving Episcopal Schools including 15 years as Head of School at Trinity Episcopal School.  I continually give thanks for the call that brought my family to Galveston.  The work here has allowed me to make a difference in many lives and to leave a good mark on this institution.  It is what I had always wanted to do, and I remain grateful for the opportunity to serve here.  Watching the children grow into young men and women all these years has been such a blessing.  We can all be proud that Trinity has maintained a core focus on the education of Mind, Body, and Spirit even as the school has continued to develop and respond to all kinds of challenges in each succeeding generation.  

I have come to discern that the time for me to step down as Head of School will be in the summer of 2017.  It is important to announce this now, so that appropriate time may be given to the search for my successor.  This process should be deliberate and thorough, and the time given to it should be a signal of the health of this institution.  While The Rev. Susan Kennard and the Board of Trustees are about that work, I plan to focus my energy on making the 2016-2017 school year one of the best.

Retirement is a hard decision because I have grown to love the place and the people with whom I have shared this ministry…I will miss you all.  Trinity and me…we’ve been through a lot together over the years!  I am grateful for the school’s Trustees whose leadership and wisdom helped the school come back from Hurricane Ike and enter an unprecedented phase of its history.  The work has been difficult at times, but this place has a lot of grace for those who seek to persevere.  Those of you who know me best know that my best friend and love, Layne, keeps me grounded and as sane as can reasonably be expected.

Layne and I plan to remain in Galveston after my retirement, and I hope to do part-time work in other places as a teacher and priest in accordance with Diocesan policies and best practices.  I still feel called to serve in the Church but in a way that will allow more time for prayer, study, and writing.  Please know that while I am working in other parts of God’s vineyard, Trinity will always be in my heart.

Regards,

(The Rev.) David C. Dearman
Head of School