More News

Several years out of college, Len Armstrong was working in middle management for Verizon.

Despite his success in the corporate world, a bold move led him down a different career path. He now is headmaster of St. John's Episcopal School in Olney.

"I had just turned 30 and my wife and I had purchased a new home," he said. "I decided that I liked working with kids. I told my wife that changing careers would make me less stressed and a better husband. That was 1999 and I haven't looked back."

Armstrong said he took a 50 percent cut in salary to go back to his alma mater, St. Stephen's and St. Agnes in Alexandria, Va., to work as the director of admissions for the middle and upper schools and to coach football and basketball.

He then went to Landon School in Bethesda, where he served as assistant director of admissions, coached football and basketball, and taught history.

Those experiences, especially working in admissions, he said, helped Armstrong to learn how independent schools educate students. The experiences he gained at Verizon taught him the art of customer service and how to deal with people, he added.

Armstrong, 40, graduated from Hampden-Sydney College with a degree in English and Spanish and then earned a master's degree in educational administration from Trinity Washington University.

In 2006, he was hired to serve as director of the middle school at St. John's.

"I immediately loved St. John's — it's such a tight-knit community," he said. "The parents are supportive, the teachers go above and beyond, and many of our kids are with us for nine years, which makes it helpful to educate them."

He said he was attracted to the school by its mission: "We graduate students of character and faith."

"Character and faith those words are important in anyone's life," he said.

Former headmaster John Zurn resigned last year after serving 19 years in that role.

"John did a lot for the school," Armstrong said. "I value him a lot; he gave me an opportunity here and I will always appreciate that."

When Zurn announced he was leaving to become headmaster at a school in southern California, Armstrong was named interim headmaster at St. John's. Last spring he was named headmaster.

"Mr. Armstrong is committed to setting high standards for students with regard to academic and character achievement and we feel fortunate to have him," said Dan Dionisio, former chair of the Board of Trustees.

Tracy Douglas-Wheeler, immediate past president of the school's Parent Association, said the organization fully supports the decision to name Armstrong as headmaster.

"Teachers, parents and students are all very happy," she said. "His demeanor is very personable and charismatic and he has good insight. He is just a dynamic leader and will effectively take the school where it needs to go."

Armstrong does not anticipate any immediate changes, and said while it is not about the mark that he leaves on the school, he does have goals. He wants the school to become better equipped at educating all types of learners and to maintain small class sizes.

"Meeting kids where they are helps them to meet their full potential, and keeping class size down allows the teachers to reach the kids individually," he said.

He also hopes to expand the community service program by having classes work on projects together, rather than students meeting individual requirements.

He said he holds close a quote that states, "To whom much is given, much is expected."

"We have the means at this school and should be giving not only to the Olney community, but the extended community, as well," he said. "It goes along with our mission — I believe giving helps to create character."

Armstrong admits it is a challenging time for private schools. Enrollment at St. John's Episcopal is down. The school has an enrollment of 255 students this school year, when it has been as high as 304.

"It's been a challenge, because lower enrollment means fewer teachers, and we've all been asked to do more with less," he said.

St. John's is opening a preschool this year and he thinks that will help get enrollment numbers back up.

Armstrong said the school has maintained an average class size of 15 and some grades are full.

His son Trey attends Cashell Elementary School in Olney because there are no openings in the fifth grade class at St. John's. Armstrong said he expects Trey will attend St. John's for middle school next year, along with his daughter, Paris, who is a seventh-grader at the school.

Armstrong and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 15 years and reside in the Norbeck Meadows community. When not working, Armstrong said his hobbies are eating and cooking. As a former Division III college football player, he follows sports closely, participating in fantasy football leagues and living vicariously through NFL players, he said.

thogan@gazette.net

-Preschool through eighth grade, outgrowth of St. John's Episcopal Church

-3427 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney

-255 students for 2010-11 school year

-Classes begin Tuesday

-Mission: "We graduate students of character and faith."

-Special programs: HEROES Character Education Program; educational service trips to Belize, Costa Rica and Egypt; World Village Experience, where students communicate with a selected sister class from around the world.