Westminster Academy School Board recently announced the selection of Joel Satterly to serve as its headmaster beginning in July. Satterly currently serves as superintendent of Southwest Chicago Christian School and has a great deal of experience in Christian education, serving as head of school for four institutions and formerly as a secondary principal and teacher. He has a passion for the gospel, for worldview development, and leadership.

Formerly president of Christian Schools of Florida (CSF), Satterly was a colleague and friend of Dr. Ken Wackes, executive director of CSF and headmaster of Westminster Academy from 1973 to 2005. Wackes congratulated the board on their decision and said, “I have been a friend of Joel’s personally and professionally for over fifteen years. He brings to the school the spiritual and educational qualities necessary to lead the school in the mission for which it was founded.”

Background

Satterly grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, and after college, enlisted in the United States Army, completing his service time as a captain. He has a B.A. in History and M.A. in Education from the University of Kentucky and is currently completing an M.B.A. at Western Governors University. He is an Eagle Scout and a Van Lunen fellow. His professional roles have provided a range of experiences and opportunities for interacting with diverse people and settings, which have impacted his view of the kingdom and the significance of Christian education.

“The Christian school plays a significant role in preparing students to engage in kingdom restoration as the typical student will spend over 16,000 hours in school. It seems then, that good is not good enough — rather we need to pursue great as our standard. Our industry needs institutional leaders. Westminster Academy has served that role in the past and I believe it should do so again,” Satterly said.

He and his wife, Carol, have been married for 25 years and have three children, Margaret and Kassandra, who are attending college, and Timothy Joel, who will be a junior at Westminster Academy in the fall. Their family have been active in their local church, which has included PCA and other Reformed settings.

A history of excellence

“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Joel to Westminster Academy. Our school has an incredible legacy of developing the next generation of leaders who will change the world for Christ’s kingdom. Joel’s commitment to excellence and his heart for students are clearly evident,” said Rob Pacienza, lead pastor or Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and a Westminster alumnus.

“As a search committee, we sought a candidate who would build on Westminster Academy’s rich legacy of excellence in all things,” said George Barbar, search committee chair and alumnus. “It is the committee’s unanimous belief that Joel will continue to build on the foundation of excellence that Dr. Wackes began 45 years ago.”

Dr. Richard DeJong, Board President, Southwest Chicago Christian Schools, confirmed, “Joel is open to new trends and ideas while holding dear foundational faith based principles. He came to our school system during a time of transition and helped move us forward in a positive direction.”

Westminster Academy is a Christ-centered, biblically-based college preparatory school dedicated to equipping covenant students to excel by using their gifts and talents for God’s glory.