Jeremy Nicholas, the current Park Place Christian Academy headmaster, will take over as Starkville Academy’s new head of schools on July 7.
The school will formally announce its hire and introduce Nicholas to faculty, staff and the public Wednesday afternoon.
A call to Nicholas went unreturned Monday.
A former faculty member, coach and director of administrative programs at Jackson Preparatory School, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Mississippi State University. Park Place Academy grew under his leadership, as enrollment eclipsed the 600 student mark during his tenure. He also holds AAA certification from the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools.
Nicholas was unanimously chosen by the school’s board of directors for his new role. He was among six finalists for the position.
“During the interview process, Mr. Nicholas demonstrated a strong vision and a clear plan for enhancing Starkville Academy’s spiritual, academic, athletic and extracurricular offerings,” a letter sent to SA parents Monday states. “His enthusiasm, energy level and desire to strengthen the relationship between Starkville Academy and the local and university communities will generate numerous opportunities for our faculty, staff and students.”
On Oct. 21, current SA Head of School John “Doc” Stephens and Elementary Principal Cherie Maynard announced their intentions to resign at the end of the academic year for family reasons. Stephens and his wife plan to return to Meridian to be with their family, while Maynard will join her husband, former Greater Starkville Development Partnership CEO Jon Maynard, in Oxford, where he serves in a similar leadership role for the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation.
The SA Board of Directors will work with Nicholas to identify qualified candidates and fill the planned vacancy at elementary school principal at the end of the school year.
Nicholas and his wife, Sarah, have an 8-year-old son, Charlie, and a 5-year-old daughter, Mary Holland.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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