St. Thomas School has been an important part of the Medina community since its founding in 1951. Since then, its highly regarded preschool, elementary, and middle schools have provided a cognitively rigorous program with an emphasis on developing character, leadership, and a passion for learning and achievement. Yet in July 2005, when Dr. Kirk Wheeler took over as Head of School, he incorporated his own pioneering approach known as ‘edgework’ and propelled the school to even greater heights. With gratitude and sadness, the St. Thomas School community bids him farewell as he finishes his final year here to pursue new adventures. He recently shared some thoughts regarding his pathway here, the legacy he leaves, and what the school has meant to him.

Dr. Wheeler’s journey in education began at Vail Mountain School, where he taught PE, Spanish, first through fourth grades, and middle school language arts. Before joining STS, he held leadership roles at the American School of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and served as lead supervisor for the summer mountain program for the Town of Vail. “My next goal was to join a very large, international K-12 school,” he says with a laugh. “But as good fortune would have it, I learned of St. Thomas School and came to visit having never been to Seattle or Medina. Something spoke to me about how welcoming everyone was and how incredibly respectful and curious the students were, and I instantly fell in love with the students, families, faculty, and staff,” he explains. “I also sensed this pent-up innovative spirit that had so much potential, and that fired me up!”

His first year here there were only 167 students in preschool through sixth grade. Today there are 365 students in preschool through eighth grade. In that time, Dr. Wheeler has guided St. Thomas School to national recognition as a Microsoft Showcase School and achieved the milestone of becoming Washington state’s first LEED Gold-certified campus. His leadership has also been instrumental in creating the Athletics and Performing Arts Center, the Center for Leadership and Innovation, and the Center for Responsive Learning. Still, he has never lost sight of the history and tradition of St. Thomas School and, in fact, loves the blend of innovative, forward-thinking spirit balanced with a sense of history and tradition. “Those traditions have been the anchor points in the sense of purpose and stability that have served our community so well,” he says.

Speaking of that innovative spirit, Dr. Wheeler had been developing his concept of Edgework long before coming to STS, and it has now become part of the school’s DNA. “Think about being on the edge, whether it’s physically or simply on the edge of something new, novel, scary, and risky,” he explains. “Edgework refers to that special zone where you are being challenged, you are stepping out on the edge, and you are trying something new, but you are not so far out you’re panicking and not learning.” It has become part of the curriculum here and is also part of broader experiences such as student field trips, athletic endeavors, performing arts endeavors, and after-school and camp programs, both on and off campus. Being a smaller school, the teachers here truly know and understand each of their students and where their individual edges lie. As Dr. Wheeler points out, “It’s about understanding a student’s strengths and areas for growth and allowing that design to happen.”

By facing new challenges and learning opportunities, students build confidence, find their voices, become self-advocates, and learn to work in diverse social groups. Most importantly, they do so within a community that is welcoming and inclusive. “The sense of community here is powerful whether you are a family, a student, or part of the faculty and staff. You feel a real sense of belonging and connection.” It is, in fact, what he will miss most about St. Thomas School. “How fortunate I have been to work with such remarkable people who have challenged me and helped me grow,” he reflects fondly.

In terms of the school’s programs, Dr. Wheeler is proud of everything from performing arts to athletics to the after school and summer programs. “Having helped grow all these programs makes me so proud, as does having helped create all the physical facilities we worked so hard on to enhance our beautiful campus,” he shares. “But I am most proud of our culture of innovation and creativity, as schools by design can become quite constrained when marching through the set curriculum. I hope I’ve left a legacy that honors tradition while remaining a place where educators and staff can dream big, share innovative ideas, and work together to bring them to fruition.”

He has named his final school year “The Gratitude Tour” and thanks the community for their support of the school through volunteering, financial donations, their service, and their ideas. But most of all, he is grateful for the support he has received personally.