Dear SMUS community,
As I approach the 30-year milestone as a Head of School, Elizabeth and I have decided that after much soul searching, the time has come to ‘hang up the gown’ so to speak, and, in other words, to retire from my position as the Head of School of St. Michaels University School, as of August 31, 2025.
We feel privileged to have been so warmly welcomed by the SMUS community, over what will have been a seven-year ‘watch’ at the helm of this wonderful school.
The combination of energy from our 1,000 talented learners, our committed faculty and staff, and the dedicated governance by our Board, combines to create a powerful alchemy on which our success both now and into the future is built.
There is still a busy Floreat 2030 agenda to work on and there will be occasion for further words. In the meantime, I will be offering full support to our Board and their appointed search consultants, Perrett Laver, to identify my successor.
I should add that beginning April 2024 through to July, I will be taking a period of scheduled sabbatical leave to refresh and prepare for my final year. In my absence, Deputy Head of School Eliot Anderson will be Acting Head of School. I have every confidence he will do an outstanding job.
More detailed information will be circulated as appropriate, but for now, Elizabeth and I thank you, profoundly, for making our time here at SMUS so productive and enjoyable.
SMUS and its diverse community will always have a special place in our hearts. We will continue to count our blessings and good fortune that we have had the chance to share the path on the learning journeys of so many warm and enthusiastic students.
It has been my practice to use the acclamation VIVAT for the past and present, and FLOREAT when looking forward with confidence.
FLOREAT captures my spirit as I sign this letter.
Mark Turner,
Head of School
For information on our search for a new Head, visit the Head of School search page and read the Head of School Succession Plan: Q & A
