Mount Saint Joseph has always prided itself in having a strong administration. The administration prides itself on not just being the heads of the school, but also being called to teach classes while fulfilling their duties as administrators. Mr. Rob Peace and Mr. George Andrews are two teachers that I have been lucky enough to have for classes during my time at St. Joe. What I have learned from my experiences with them, is that they have a passion for the students, and the school.
Mount Saint Joseph, just like has any other school, has to have a strong administration for succeed. Before the school year, Mr. David Norton, principal of The Mount, retired. This presented a challenge for the administration. School president, Mr. George Andrews, took charge. Mr. Andrews has grown up around Xaverian education. He went to St. Mary’s Ryken, and previously taught at Mount St. Joe before becoming president of the school, and he has such a passion for The Mount. In the interim, while searching for a new principal, he offered to take over the principal position. Mr. Andrews now has to manage an Honors Modern America Class, and two significant administration positions. Mr. Rob Peace also has been involved in Xaverian education for a large portion of his life. He comes from North Carolina, and his wife’s great uncle was a Xaverian Brother. Both Mr. Andrews and Mr. Peace, are strong believers in the power of Xaverian education.
Mr. Sam Bianco (Director of Students), Mr. David Norton (Retired Principal), Mr. Robert Peace (Director of Staff Formation), Mr. George Andrews (President and interim Principal), Mr. Greg McDivitt (Director of Studies)
While Mr. Peace and Mr. Andrews are the only administrative members who aren’t alumni of The Mount, they came to the school for many reasons. They both talk about the school as if they are alumni. Both hailing from Catholic backgrounds, they both arrived at the school nervous, but ready for a challenge.
For students today, Ms. Judy Kraft is a name they may hear a lot, even though she is no longer with the school community. She held the position of Assistant Principal and Director of Faculty Formation from 1998 until 2010. Ms. Kraft returned to teach in the Theology department until her death in 2011. Currently, Mr. Peace holds the same position that Ms. Kraft held for so many years. When asked about her impact, Mr. Peace’s face lit up as he talked about her.
“She was very compassionate to me with the Xaverian Education.”
Mr. Rob Peace, speaking about the influence of Ms. Judy Kraft.
She taught Mr. Peace the ways of St. Joe and how to foster a community of “care and concern for the boys.” Mr. Peace learned a lot about what it meant to manage a diverse faculty and staff, and to develop a Xaverian spirit of trust, from Ms. Kraft. Now in his 10th year as Assistant Principal, when talking about his teachers, Mr. Peace, like Ms. Kraft before him, is extremely positive about his staff.
“We’ve got the best teachers in the state of Maryland because they know their content area, and they are able to make themselves better and improve their content area. They will always go the extra mile to help them grow. They believe in the mission of the school. There are always alums who want to come back and thank their teachers.”
Mr. Rob Peace, speaking positively about The Mount’s teaching staff.
Mr. Andrews came to the Mount in 1987, and as he started to teach history he began feeling passionately about the school, eventually falling in love with the school and the goals that they are trying to accomplish. Over the course of his career, he has gone from teaching, coaching, and running student council, to becoming the face of St. Joe as its president. He was so impacted by his experience being around the Xaverian Brothers, as a student at Ryken High School (now St. Mary’s Ryken), that he wanted to have that same impact on students, faculty, and staff today.
“My connection to the Xaverian Brothers and what they did for me, I want to see the Mount doing the same that they did for me.”
Mr. George Andrews, President of Mount Saint Joseph High School.
When Mr. David Norton retired prior to the start of the school year, Mr. Andrews took charge and decided to run two main office positions, President and Principal. He told me it’s going very well, but he always has to have his game face on. Both he and Mr.Peace talked about how good the staff is here, and how experienced they are. Mr. Andrews called them, “a band of brothers and sisters.” Mr. Andrews goes to every reunion and is able to see the impact the Mount has made on graduates, as well as seeing how they have thrived because of their experience. Mr. Peace also talked positively about seeing alumni returning to the school to visit the teachers. Mr. Andrews agrees with the sentiment that so many alumni believe, that graduation from the Mount is truly a “memory that will last a life time.”
“Our goal is to develop men who matter and what we do really works.”
School President and Interim Principal, Mr. George Andrews
Both Mr. Andrews and Mr. Peace love teaching, and the students they impact. Mr. Andrews teaches a Junior Honors American History class and Mr. Peace teaches a Freshman Theology class. Both of them enjoy interacting with students and being more than just an administrator. Both are heavily involved with the process of hiring new teachers. They both consider teaching an art, and they want to make sure that all hired teachers buy in to the mission of the school.
“Know your stuff, got to like kids, and be able to see teaching as an art.”
Mr. George Andrews speaking about the teaching profession.
Both teachers talked highly about the environment here, but when they came to MSJ, just like most students, they were a bit unsure of their surroundings, but ready to work. They both believe in the mission. And they, along with the rest of the administration, are passionate advocates for Mount St. Joe, its mission and values.
When looking to the future of the Mount both talked about continuing the Xaverian Values. According to both Mr. Andrews and Mr. Peace, being an educator 20 years ago is very different then the way information is conveyed today. The Mount’s founding brothers started off with one student, today they have over 900 students, all with different needs and strengths, many who had relatives that attended the Mount previously. Mr. Andrew’s believes the founding brothers would be astonished by how much the school has grown and developed over the past 143 years. Teaching today is 21st century based, leaving behind the chalk and chalk board to iPads and a reliance on education technology. The brotherhood still exists, the mission still being spread. If you have all of those things, Mount Saint Joseph will continue to be a home for young men for years to come.
