Mr. Kevin Smith, the new “president elect” of Prep and Villa, as well as the new Cathedral Preparatory School that will be beginning fall of 2022, will be starting as the official president in July.
Many students, alum, administration, etc. have been worried and desperately trying to work everything out for this new school beginning next year. While administration searched far and wide for a new president, they kept specific qualities in mind. Mr. Smith proved that he was the best option for this new position for one large reason: he has overseen the merger of schools two different times before.
“I hope that experience will be helpful,” Mr. Smith stated. “There is a lot of stuff happening, but there is still a lot to do.”
He believes that there is not a complete right or wrong way to do things. He has strong beliefs in equity and inclusion and will make sure these are enforced at the new school.
“In order for this merger and consolidation to be successful, we have to carry forward as much as we can of the culture that is already there,” he said. “We have to start right and make sure everyone has a voice, make sure those voices are honored and heard, and then make a decision based off that.”
He added, “My job is not to be the person who tells everyone what to do; my job is to listen to everybody and help the school make good decisions.”
“Everyone will have opinions; faculty, students, parents, alumni, administrators, etc. and sometimes these opinions will be directly in opposition to each other,” Smith said. “My job is to sit in the middle of all that and identify the best decision to make. When dealing with high school students, you have to make sure that voice is strong. All of the students are smart and capable, and we have to take advantage of the opportunity to hear the voices of students.”
What he is planning to focus on the most when running the school is being sure that the environment and the community is inclusive and affirming.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if people underestimate the impact of taking two single-gendered schools and putting them together,” he said. “It’s going to be a really different experience for every student and every teacher. The legacy and the traditions of both schools need to be carried forward. Just because both schools are awesome schools, I still want to be sure that the school always has the ambition to get better.”
Mr. Smith and his family are looking forward to seeing their extended family more often as well, as they live in Ohio. Mr. Smith and his kids love snow as well! He loves to go skiing, too.
Mr. Kevin Smith, along with his family, are getting ready to move to Erie, and he is so excited to get started with Prep and Villa.
