Dhilan Lavu ’21, Peter Woodville ’21, Michael Zhoe ’21:
Steve Morris will be stepping down from Head of Middle School to be replaced by Imana Legette, the current Director of Diversity at Penn Charter. Morris will assume a teaching role at Episcopal.
Head of School T.J. Locke explains that he was not surprised about Morris’s decision to step down to a teaching role as he comments, “I know he’s wanted to do this for several years now and he just loves being with the students so much, … that’s his real passion. I think he’s really done an amazing job as our Middle School Head and he’s loved that work too, but his passion’s with the kids.”
Photo Courtesty of EA website
Morris confirmed that statement, saying: “[I was] driven really by wanting to be back in the classroom and teach… I’ve always been in it to have moments of learning with kids, as an administrator you have great impact but it’s not the same day to day impact you get by teaching or coaching.”
Morris will be teaching both Upper and Middle School classes, although they have yet to be determined. He will also continue to coach Middle School football and basketball. He currently teaches one math class in the Middle School for advanced students.
Will Semmer ‘21, a former student of his, says, “He’s a great teacher, he knows what he’s talking about and has a unique style of teaching where he lets the kids take control of the class schedule in a way that is very beneficial to their learning.”
Other students and teachers weighed in on how the switch of such a prominent position will impact the EA community. James Austin ‘22, adds, “Honestly, I don’t think it will have a large impact on the Middle School, it’s more about the teachers than administrators.”
This change marks the third major shift within upper level administration in the past year. Assistant Head of School and Head of Upper School were both replaced in 2017.
Tommy Kan ‘21 is hopeful about what the future will hold, noting, “Mr. Morris and all the previous administrators have done a fine job running Episcopal, but these new heads have also been doing great. I hope the new Head of Middle School will follow in Mr. Morris’ footsteps and be a kind teacher.”
Locke remarks, “I hope that my team stays for a very long time. The good and bad news about Episcopal is that this is a nationally-known school and so people that come here and do well are recruited very heavily to go to other places.”
As for Morris’ transition into a teaching role, he seems at ease. He says, “I don’t think I’ll have a whole lot of difficulty with that transition… I have 34 years of experience. In the end, I want to finish where I started.”
For more information on Legette, refer to the EA website