From the Head of School

As we wrap up this school year and head into the summer months, we wish all the best for our seniors in this year's graduating class. We pray that they will go forth to continue living out the MPCS mission to honor God, love others, and walk in Truth. I pray the entire MPCS family has a safe and memorable summer, wherever the Lord directs your steps.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” 
- Numbers 6:24-26

Dear MPCS Family,

I want to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the parents, students, faculty, staff, and administration for the unbelievably warm welcome I have received on my return to Mount Paran Christian School. The recent leadership transition has, no doubt, been difficult for some of you, but I have been assured repeatedly in so many ways that the mission of this place is alive and well and not dependent on any one person; it is the presence of the Lord on this campus that brings comfort and passion to the collective work we do together. Thanks for sharing in this God-honoring calling. 

I am also confident you join me in wishing the Wiens family God’s blessings as they begin a new phase in their ministry and careers. It has been a joy to come alongside Dr. Wiens as he led the school the last five years; I have applauded from the sidelines as I watched, as an MPCS grandparent, the many wonderful things that have been done to further the life-transforming work of our school. I know Tim, Katie, and Eliot welcome your prayers as they follow God’s will for their future.

Please also know I have a tremendous respect and admiration for our Board of Trustees and am confident in their full commitment to the mission of MPCS. I have worked with most all these leaders when I served previously and can affirm, without hesitation, their dedication to appropriately advancing the cause of exemplary academic, Christ-centered education on our campus. They, too, will value your prayers as they begin to seek the next leader to further the mission and programs of the school we love.

We have said it often, but we confidently affirm it once again:

Providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment, Mount Paran Christian School unites with home and church to prepare servant-leaders to honor God, love others, and walk in Truth.

Our God has been and always will be faithful!

Blessings,

David W. Tilley, Ed.D.
Interim Head of School

Prior to moving to East Tennessee, Dr. David Tilley lived in New Mexico, Idaho, and Kansas as the son of a minister. He graduated in 1967 from East Ridge High School in Chattanooga,, Tennessee, and went on to receive his dual degree in political science and education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).

Upon graduating from UTC in 1971, Dr. Tilley took positions with the Cobb County School District as a middle school teacher and also with Mount Paran Church of God as minister of youth. He served Cobb County as a principal and central office administrator in both Personnel and Local Administration.

He went on to receive his M.Ed. in Educational Administration in 1975 from Georgia State University. He was a member of the first Board of Directors when the MPCS opened its doors in 1976.

In 1982, Dr. Tilley started Straight, Inc., a drug rehabilitation program for adolescents in Marietta. In 1984, he assumed the role of Headmaster for MPCS and led its move to the East Marietta campus from Buckhead.

After initiating the high school program at MPCS, he accepted the position of Vice President for Student Life at Lee University located in Cleveland, Tennessee. While there, he received his doctorate in Leadership Studies from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1995.

After 14 years at Lee University, Dr. Tilley accepted a position as Vice President for Student Life located in Houghton College, Houghton, New York.

Dr. Tilley returned to Mount Paran Christian School as Headmaster in 2004 until his retirement in 2018. He went on to serve a term as an interim head at Mt. Pisgah Christian School.

Dr. Tilley is the recent past Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Independent Schools Association (GISA), current member of the Feed My Lambs Board of Directors, and an adjunct faculty member at Kennesaw State University and Gordon College in Boston.

Dr. Tilley is married to Angie, and they have three adult children and seven grandchildren.