Dear Members of The Loyola School Community:
If you know the history of Jesuit education in Baltimore over the past three decades, you know that this is how it works:
Father Bill Watters creates a vision. He finds philanthropists to support that vision. He locates a building. He hires a talented faculty and staff. He recruits eager students and families.
He brings them all together to build a school that generates new opportunities for Baltimore children and changes their lives forever.
And then – once he is satisfied that the school is strong and solid, with the infrastructure and support it needs to thrive – he humbly steps aside and invites others to assume leadership.
That moment has now arrived for The Loyola School.
Father Watters believes that – with our sixth academic year nearly complete, five of what soon will be eight grade levels established, and work on our new building underway – now is the time for him to cede his role as president of the school. He recently asked the board of trustees to begin the search for his successor.
We will do so, with deepest gratitude for what Father Watters has accomplished. He not only brought The Loyola School to life, but also established previously our flourishing sister schools, St. Ignatius Loyola Academy and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.
Simply put, since 1993, no one has done more to offer quality education to boys and girls from underserved Baltimore communities. No one in our city has done more to develop Men and Women for Others. No one has done more – to put it in Ignatian terms — for God’s Greater Glory and the Well-Being of God’s People. We will be forever thankful.
We are also grateful that, even after he steps aside as president, Father Bill will remain a vital part of The Loyola School community. He will continue on the board of trustees and will serve as president emeritus, helping to complete the campaign to finance our school building and supporting the school in whatever capacity the new president asks.
The board has created a committee to lead the search for a successor to Father Watters. We invite you to contact the committee co-chairs—the Rev. Gregory Chisholm, S.J., and St. Ignatius Church parishioner Madeline Lacovara—to nominate potential candidates. You may also contact them simply to let us know what qualities you think we should be looking for in our second president.
Father Bill will send a message later today with some of his own thoughts about this moment and about the school he created with your help.
We look forward to inviting all members of the school community – students, families, teachers, staff, parishioners and supporters – to honor Father before he officially steps aside. In the meantime, we join him in thanking you for making his vision for The Loyola School a reality.
Sincerely,
Chair, Board of Trustees
The Loyola School
