STE Welcomes New Headmaster

On October 24th, the school board of Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School installed Mr. Tom Bendel as the school’s new Headmaster. Having served as Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy and worked as Head of School and other leadership roles in schools both in the United States and abroad, Mr. Bendel joins the small, exclusive group of headmasters at STE who have served since its founding in 1955. At the beginning of this exciting time in our school, I was honored to interview Mr. Bendel within his first few weeks as Headmaster. 

What would you like to share with the STE community about your life experiences in education and yourself?
Before I became a professional educator, I spent 21 years as an officer in the American Navy. What I learned in that part of my life was a commitment to things larger than myself and working together as a team to accomplish difficult goals. Those things translate well into being an educator because we are committing to something bigger than ourselves by helping young people achieve a future that is best for them.

A headshot of Mr. Bendel. (Photo: Laine Williams)

How did your career in the Navy and teaching at the Naval Academy help you become a better headmaster?
You learn to make hard decisions with limited information, to trust other people, and that you have your limitations. You learn to make progress as a part of a team and work for the future rather than for your own purposes.

What is your favorite thing about STE thus far?
How nice it is that we go to chapel every day. It’s an opportunity to get in touch with our mission of forming honorable young people with a Christ-centered worldview. It’s a special community event where we're sharing the STE experience, even if it’s only for 30 minutes daily.

What is the most surprising thing you have learned about our school?
The STE community has gone out of its way to ensure that I'm okay, that my wife is okay, and that my dogs are okay. It makes coming to work much better knowing everybody wants you to be there. The people at STE are incredibly nice and welcoming. 

Mr. Bendel's family takes a selfie. (From left: Christopher Bendel, Tabitha Bendel, Nicholas Bendel, Tom Bendel, Jennifer Bendel, Calista Bendel, Shannon Bendel, and Todd Bendel.) (Photo: Christopher Bendel)

What do you see for our future in five years?
Every day when I come to school, I write on my board: What will you do today to ensure that STE is a better place tomorrow? I want this to be a good place for teachers because student experience depends a lot on the teachers being happy and fulfilled professionally. We want parents to feel confident that their children are growing personally and academically while at school. We need alumni to stay engaged with this wonderful place as we grow. I hope that's going to be true, whether it's five years, ten years, or fifteen years from now.  Also, with a beautiful new academic building and so many campus renovations, we have the opportunity to grow and find more students who can benefit from an STE education.

What do you think makes a good school?
It nurtures good people and community members. We want to make sure STE students are well-equipped to enter the world and make meaningful personal and professional contributions. 

We are excited to have Mr. Bendel as a part of our school community and look forward to his initiatives to make STE an even more incredible place to learn.