Special Edition: Same Faces, New Places
By Brett King, RMCA Principal

People are no doubt RMCA’s greatest asset. We have dedicated parents and talented staff members that work hard to make RMCA a great place for students to learn and grow. Throughout RMCA’s brief history, God has not only brought us great people, he has also provided them at just the right time!

Jim Mitchell is one of those people. Three years ago, Jim came on board as part of our strategic plan to develop RMCA’s middle school program. Under his leadership as Middle School Director, he organized the installation of the modular building, orchestrated the design and implementation of our classical curriculum, formed a talented middle school faculty, touched the lives of students, and laid a solid foundation on which we can build in the years ahead. And with our first class of 8th graders completing their studies at RMCA at the end of this school year, the goals of that plan have been accomplished.

As some of you are aware, Jim has done all this in a part-time capacity. During his tenure at RMCA, he has also been involved in the development of an innovative program providing classes and housing for Christian college students enrolled in secular universities. As that program has also grown and flourished, it has become clear that he has been called to devote his full energies to that ministry. Consequently, Jim will be leaving RMCA at the end of June. I want to personally thank him for his leadership, friendship, and devotion to RMCA’s mission. He has served this ministry well!

As this transition has unfolded in recent weeks, the administrative team considered how to best continue the support and future development of the middle school program, which resulted in a plan to make a strategic shift in our administrative structure. I am confident that these changes will provide greater support to our teachers, better serve our families and students, enable further efficiency in our operations, and continue to focus our eyes on our classical and Christian mission.
One member of our faculty who has demonstrated a passion for this mission will play a critical role in that structure. Dr. Sylvia Robinson has served as our Director of Curriculum and Instruction for nearly three years. During that time, she has been instrumental in building our classical curriculum, as well as providing vital support and training for our teachers. This behind-the-scenes work has also been done in a part-time capacity. However, beginning next fall, she will build on these accomplishments in a full-time role.

Sylvia has been appointed RMCA’s K-8 Principal. In her position as K-8 Principal, Sylvia will continue her work in curriculum development in the context of her responsibility for the day-to-day leadership of students, instructional faculty, and parents in both the elementary and middle school programs. Her experience and professional credentials in educational administration have and will continue to contribute to her success. And with her three children all enrolled in RMCA, she has a unique perspective to help make the school the best it can be.

You may be wondering what these changes may mean for me. While my position and duties as the head administrator are not changing, my title is. To avoid confusion with Sylvia’s role as K-8 Principal, and to be consistent with language commonly used in classical schools, my title will change from “Principal” to “Headmaster.” I will continue to work under the direction of the school board to provide leadership and oversight for the early childhood and K-8 programs. However, I will not be as directly involved in the daily management of those programs as I have been in the past. Instead, I will focus even more time on the over-all operational strategy and organizational development of our growing school.

This is an exciting and important development for RMCA. I want to invite you to a reception where you can ask questions, express your appreciation to Jim, and meet Sylvia in person. Please plan to join us either, (1) Tuesday, May 17, 8:45am, Rm. 139 (Lunchroom); or (2) Thursday, May 19, 3:15pm, Rm. 247(Art Rm).

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