The Academy Welcomes Matthew D. Ormiston as New Principal
Over the last few months, a number of staff, alumni, parents, and board members participated in the interview and selection process for the Academy’s next Principal. It is a great joy to share that Mr. Matthew D. Ormiston will return to the Academy as our next Principal, beginning July 1, 2022.
Matt is a graduate of Washington & Lee University and received his Masters in Education at Loyola University here in Baltimore. After college, Matt participated in a number of teaching programs including teaching English as a second language to factory workers in the Czech Republic, counseling and mentoring adults in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and teaching in Thailand as a member of the U.S. Peace Corps before coming to St. Ignatius Loyola Academy in 1996 as a teacher, Director of the Academy’s summer programs, and Dean of Students. After three years and completing his Master’s degree, Matt taught at the Baraka School in Kenya for a year, only to return to the Academy to teach again. In 2002, Matt and his wife relocated and he joined the faculty at Washington Jesuit Academy (WJA) in Washington, DC, a “brother school” of the Academy. There, Matt began taking on administrative roles including curriculum development, master planning, and other initiatives while teaching. He was later named Assistant Headmaster at WJA before leaving in 2008 to become the Middle School Director at the Highland School in Warrenton, VA. As the leader of Highland’s middle school, Matt oversaw daily operations, taught, and built a highly successful team of dedicated faculty.
Fr. William Watters, S.J., the Academy’s founder, originally hired Matt and reflected, “He is a remarkable person and an outstanding educator who has the true wavelength of students. As a key faculty member in his previous years at the Academy, he proved to be an impressive leader. His years away have brought him a tremendous amount of valuable experience which will be to the benefit of all our students and faculty.”
Matt has always remained in touch with St. Ignatius Loyola Academy, attending alumni events and milestone celebrations including our 25th Anniversary event in 2020.
Speak with anyone who knows Matt, as a student or faculty member, and you will find they speak of his dedication to education and, more importantly, the education of young men. We are sure that you will find he brings tremendous energy, enthusiasm, passion and experience as our next Principal. He works to build a community, and does so by getting to know each student, teacher, and his or her family to better understand the person.
Kyle Tayor ‘97, a current board member and Academy alum who participated in the interview process added, “I’m thrilled that Matt was selected to be the Academy’s next principal. I can tell he is eager and excited to return. Matt taught here during my time as a student and I remember him being very well liked and being able to relate to us, so I’m very confident in him having the best interests of the school, staff, and students when he begins this new role.”
Additionally, Mary Jo Wiese, a teacher from the Academy’s earliest years, former board chair, and a retired professor from Goucher College reflects, “Over 20 years ago, I met Matt as an energetic, young teacher. He brought an incredible work ethic, as well as compassion and humor, to his job, earning the affection and admiration of students, faculty and parents. Since then, he has enjoyed a successful career as a school administrator, but he has never lost his focus on what it takes to help students learn. It’s thrilling to welcome him back to the Academy.”
Matt, reflecting on his return to the Academy shared, “Twenty six years ago I was fortunate to begin my Middle School teaching career at St. Ignatius. I loved the mission, the students, and my colleagues and while I worked really hard and learned a lot, I was young and inexperienced and not as good an educator as I wanted to be. Life circumstances took me away from the Academy after five years and I have long hoped to be able to return when I had gained the experience and expertise needed to truly do the job well. I am incredibly excited to be returning home to St. Ignatius and can’t wait to begin working with everyone in the St. Ignatius Loyola Academy Community.”
Please join us in welcoming Matt and his family back to the Academy community where he will continue to build the strengths of our faculty and staff to prepare young men for the future.