From the Head of School

Dear Mount Paran Christian Families,

Amazingly, we have little more than two months left in the academic year. Let us pray for endurance to finish well these final busy weeks. Allow me to give you a few school updates.

MPCS Family Survey Results
You may recall your invitation to complete the MPCS Family Survey earlier this semester. I have now read the 111-page survey report twice and here are some initial impressions. The survey results show high confidence in our school. Parents express extremely favorable opinions of their children’s teachers and division-level administrators. They appreciate our heightened security measures. They strongly believe their children are growing in their faith, learning the Bible, and serving the community in meaningful ways. They believe our curriculum and instruction is robust, and our arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs are strong.

The survey also indicates areas for improvement. Parents expressed a desire for more information about school finances and Board governance. Some have concerns about peer relationships. I read a few comments from those who wish for more information than we can provide when it comes to confidential HR matters. And there are always a variety of conflicting opinions about dining hall food options, chapel programming, discipline, and grading practices. I want you to know we take survey data seriously, reviewing all comments and seeking ways to improve. While we cannot respond to every comment or opinion, we look carefully for trends in the data and will respond with appropriate improvements, always holding fast to our Christian mission.

Staying True to Our Covenant
One question I hear asked frequently, and one that appears in parent survey comments, relates to church recommendation forms once used in our admissions process. Some believe that eliminating those forms years ago was intended to loosen our entrance requirements to boost enrollment. The truth is far simpler. Many churches in the area, especially large ones, stopped agreeing to complete the forms. With hundreds of forms to complete, church leaders either did not know students well enough to recommend them or could not keep up with the paperwork. We were forced to eliminate the recommendation form, but not the requirement that families affiliate with a local church consistent with the MPCS covenant. That requirement remains unchanged, and every week we make admissions decisions about mission-fit families accordingly.

Knox Slated for Spring Reopening
Renovations to the Knox Athletic Performance Center are well underway. The facility will include an expanded PT Solutions sports medicine training room which will better serve our student-athletes. Finishes are in progress with a target date of reopening in May — just in time for summer workouts and athletic training. 

Best of Cobb Again
We are humbled and blessed by your votes for MDJ / Cobb Life Magazine in the "Kids and Education" category where MPCS has been selected as the #1 "Best Private School" in Cobb county for the seventh year in a row. Thank you! Congratulations also to Middle School Bible Teacher, Mrs. Amanda Varner, for being selected as the coveted "Best Teacher" in Cobb! Not only that, our preschool was named the best for year number six — and the performing arts, music, and dance programs also won top honors once again. Congratulations to our students, teachers, staff, and families that make MPCS truly the best around

On Track for Next Year
Finally, I am happy to report that enrollment, student and employee retention, financial aid, philanthropy, and budget numbers are all trending favorably. And with great anticipation, planning is now underway for next year’s celebration of our school’s 50th anniversary. I will give you more details about this milestone in a later update.

Onward.

Dr. Matthew S. Kerlin
MPCS Head of School

Dear MPCS Families,

Now nearly one month into the academic year, I have met hundreds of you in hallways, classrooms, carpool lines, athletic venues, and in my home. MPCS exudes friendliness and southern hospitality, yet there is an even deeper companionship we share. In our August faculty and staff worship service, we studied Colossians 3:12, where Paul writes, “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” This is our dress code. As the school year proceeds during an intense election year, let us wear these virtues and model them for our children.
Onward.

Dr. Matthew S. Kerlin
Head of School

Read the full memo

Dear MPCS Families,
 
I feel beyond excited to begin my first school year at this wonderful place. Thank you for welcoming my wife and me so warmly. I could tell MPCS was a great school before I stepped foot on campus. Two months into my tenure now, all I’ve experienced confirms my initial impressions. At the onset, let me affirm my laser focus on our mission to provide academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment. Whatever we do, we must get that right. I have read just about every parent survey I can get my hands on, so I know you agree.
 
My goal in the weeks ahead is to get to know our faculty, staff, students, and families. To serve you well, I need to know you and to see our people at work and play. I will be in our hallways, classrooms, and carpool lines, as well as in attendance at athletic and arts events on our campus and in our community. As we meet, please introduce yourself, and forgive me if I need to ask for your name more than once.

I plan to write you at least once each month to give you important updates and information. I prefer to communicate with transparency and brevity. At some point, I am sure to make a decision with which you disagree, but I will always try to explain our thought process and the data informing our decisions. If you ever have a question or a problem, please let us know. Our community works best with open and honest communication.
 
We are going to have a great school year. I am praying for you, especially our new students. See you in carpool.
 
In Christ,

Matthew S. Kerlin, Ph.D.
MPCS Head of School

 

Read the Full Memo

  

From the New Head of School

David Tilley’s parting words to employees at the conclusion of the school year included a clip from the movie Forrest Gump in which Tom Hanks’ character, after running across the United States, says “I’m tired. I think I’ll go home now.” He then handed over his well-worn running shoes to me. Having run the race with endurance, Dr. Tilley concludes his distinguished tenure as Head of School. I know I have big shoes to fill. I also know God has orchestrated the transition with remarkable grace and wisdom.

In Deuteronomy 6:10-12, God reminds his people that they live in cities they did not build, drink from wells they did not dig, and partake of vineyards and olive groves they did not plant. In all we do as a school, we will keep Christ at the center while building on the legacy of faith established by those who’ve gone before us.

As MPCS approaches its 50th anniversary, I feel honored to join a talented team of leaders who will move us forward into the future God has for the school. As you read this edition of Wingspan, I hope you will see God’s hand at work leading us onward.

Blessings,

Matthew S. Kerlin, Ph.D.
MPCS Head of School

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From the Board of Trustees: Introducing Dr. Matt Kerlin

Mount Paran Christian School is pleased to announce Dr. Matt Kerlin as the new Head of School, having begun June 1, 2024.

To identify its new school leader, the MPCS Board of Trustees partnered with CarterBaldwin Executive Search. Through an exhaustive national search that engaged with candidates from across the country, the Mount Paran Christian School Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Kerlin as the school’s next Head of School. 

Dr. Kerlin was previously the Head of School at Southlake Christian Academy in Huntersville, NC. He was formerly the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Assistant Dean of Spiritual Life at Samford University in Homewood, Alabama, and the former Senior Campus Minister for Baptist Campus Ministries at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

A shepherding, pastoral leader with deep relational capabilities, Dr. Kerlin is also highly intellectual and highly educated. His experience as both a preacher and a teacher will be invaluable to the MPCS community. Dr. Kerlin earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Louisiana State University, a Master of Arts in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Philosophy in Historical Theology from Baylor University, and an MBA from Samford University.

MPCS Board of Trustees Chairman George Ethridge shared, “Dr. Kerlin is a strategic thinker and team builder who has the vision and foresight to drive MPCS to new heights. The Board is incredibly excited about the hiring of Dr. Kerlin, as we believe that God has guided the Kerlins to MPCS.”

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MPCS has warmly welcomed Dr. Kerlin to the MPCS school community. He joined the MPCS community summer of 2024. Dr. Kerlin and his wife of 33 years, Jonlyn, are parents of children, Reid, Michelle, Emma Grace, and Kate.