From Craig Lent, Overall Coordinator of the People of Praise and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Trinity Schools, Inc.:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
After 36 years of service and visionary leadership, Dr. Kerry Koller has decided to step down from his position as president of Trinity Schools, Inc. His resignation will take effect in the summer of 2017. The Trinity Schools board of trustees has already begun the difficult task of choosing his replacement.
Kerry has filled the role of president since 1981, when we opened the doors of the first Trinity School in South Bend. Through his guiding vision, we have grown from a small community of learners in a rented church hall to one that includes three campuses, two member schools and more than 2,000 alumni. Trinity’s reputation for academic excellence has expanded nationally, and our model has provided the foundation for two member schools, Trinity Academy in Portland and The Wilberforce School in Princeton, New Jersey, as well as more than a dozen public charter schools in Arizona, Texas and Colorado, including the Thomas Maclaren School in Colorado Springs. Our three campuses have earned a total of seven Blue Ribbon awards from the U.S. Department of Education. Of Trinity at Greenlawn, the late author and political thinker Russell Kirk said, “I know of no better school in these United States.”
I want to offer Kerry my most heartfelt thanks for his enormous contributions to Trinity and his decades of hard work on behalf of all of us. Kerry has met the daily challenges of leading and growing Trinity Schools with constant cheerfulness and a deep joy, laboring faithfully out of love for our covenant and a desire to bring the blessings of a Trinity education to as many people as possible. Kerry has a great love of seminars, and many of us have experienced his brilliant insights into books and his deep openness to the ideas of others, stemming from his core belief that truth is more easily discovered in a community. Fortunately, Kerry has agreed to stay on as Trinity’s president emeritus, and he will advise the next president of Trinity Schools in the execution of his or her responsibilities. In the coming months, I hope that many of us can have the chance to thank and honor Kerry.
Kerry’s love of a good discussion goes back to his days as a high school student in San Francisco, when he would listen in as his father’s friends, a collection of philosophers and theologians, debated the big issues of their day. He attended St. Mary’s College of California, where he read the Great Books and learned to appreciate classical music while living in the home of Dr. Ronald McArthur, who went on to found Thomas Aquinas College. Kerry and Barbara moved to South Bend in 1963, where Kerry attended the University of Notre Dame, earning his Ph.D. in philosophy. At that time, he met Paul DeCelles, Kevin Ranaghan and Clem Walters, who eventually became his friends and fellow leaders in the community and at Trinity. In 1969, the Kollers moved back to San Francisco, where they and others founded the John the Baptist Charismatic Renewal Community, eventually returning to South Bend and joining the People of Praise with many others who moved from San Francisco.
I would be remiss if I did not also mention the long service Barbara has given to our mission at Trinity, in her many years as a teacher and admissions director and in her willingness to move, not once but twice, along with Kerry, as the Kollers helped lay the foundations for the River Ridge and Meadow View campuses. The Kollers have five children, all Trinity School graduates: Katherine Brophy ‘85 (Colorado Springs), Stephen ‘87 (South Bend), Jack ‘92, Elizabeth Adams ‘95 (northern Virginia) and Peter ‘95.
Tom Finke (South Bend), a founding faculty member whose relationship with Kerry goes back to the 1970s, says Kerry’s biggest contributions to Trinity include “constantly holding up the Trinity vision” and developing the Humane Letters Seminar courses, which remain close to Kerry’s heart. “These are things that make Trinity Trinity,” he said.
Bridget Donohue (South Bend), a longtime teacher and administrator, said, “I could tell tons of stories about Kerry, but I think they would all reflect the fact that he simply has the Trinity School mission in his blood. For him, it’s not a job. It’s a life.”
Paul DeCelles (South Bend), added, “Kerry has been a brilliant leader for Trinity Schools. Trinity’s educational model has been widely admired and copied numerous times. The ripple effects of his work go on and on.” Some of those ripples include the many wonderful missionaries that Trinity has produced, making possible the community’s mission work in the Mississippi Valley.
Kay Yohe (northern Virginia), head of school at Meadow View, praised Kerry’s ability to freely follow a line of inquiry wherever it leads, encouraging others to do the same. Jon Balsbaugh (Servant Branch), the head of school at River Ridge, and John Lee (South Bend), head of school at Greenlawn, both pointed to Kerry as the model of a lifelong learner with a wide range of interests. “As long as I have known him, Kerry has continued to pursue a deeper understanding of the world, searching for the truth—whether in science, poetry, fiction or philosophy,” Jon said.
Kerry says he is looking forward to serving Trinity School and the community by reading, thinking and writing, which he expects to have more time for in the coming years. “I am so thankful to the Lord for leading Barbara and me to the People of Praise. I was blessed to be guided by Paul, Kevin and others as we considered what we were convinced was a leading from the Lord to try something new to educate our own children and the children of other families who would be attracted by our mission. I've had the opportunity to be the head of school at each of our schools, to converse with and work alongside three marvelous faculties and to teach at each school myself, along with Barbara. After all of this, who knows what more the Lord has in mind?”
Responses
Julaine McMillan says:
January 13th, 2017 at 3:06 PM
Thank you for your outstanding servant leadership and blessings for an even more outstanding future role in continuing the Lord's mission work here on earth.
Julie McMillan
Appleton Branch
Louis Grams says:
January 13th, 2017 at 3:12 PM
Kerry Koller's influence will reverberate through our life as a community for years to come. The vision and reality of Trinity has had an incredible impact on our life. At the same time, it is an astounding expression of our life together. Many thanks to Kerry for all of his service and his love of the Lord that clearly has driven it.
Ron Gouveia says:
January 13th, 2017 at 3:12 PM
Congratulations and thank you Kerry and Barbara, We are so indebted to you for the many years of wonderful service which has blessed so many. I'm sure the Lord has more for you in these next years. I have a lot of great memories of many fascinating discussions over many years.
mark doherty says:
January 13th, 2017 at 3:17 PM
Thanks, Kerry! It's an amazing work of God you've shepherded. God bless you!
Pat Walsh says:
January 13th, 2017 at 3:24 PM
Thank you Kerry (and Barbara) for lifting our minds and hearts and the minds and hearts of so many, many youth. Blessings, Pat
Carmen Fraga says:
January 13th, 2017 at 3:35 PM
Kerry Koller has had a great influence in my life for decades. There is no doubt that he imparts a vision for finding the Truth, the Good, the Beautiful that leads to a fulfilling life. I am grateful for the impact Trinity Schools has had both in my life and the life of my children.
Maile (Murphy) Schunk says:
January 13th, 2017 at 3:35 PM
Thank you Kerry & family for your years of service! Trinity is a jewel , a beautiful school I love to share with my family about. Can't wait til my kids can go there. Thank you for envisioning, helping create, and leading these schools that make such a difference in students' lives.
Thomas duddy says:
January 13th, 2017 at 4:40 PM
Thanks for your service brother! What a gift.
Thomas in allendale
Joan hiel says:
January 13th, 2017 at 4:58 PM
Thank You Kerry and Barbara for your amazing service. I humbly suggest Hawaii for your next adventure for the Lord. He might be calling you to help grow the branch here while you enjoy some of the finest weather, food and fellowship. Whatever He has in store for you, know that we appreciate all you have done to hold up true excellence in the education of our children.
Tim Ferber says:
January 13th, 2017 at 6:18 PM
Thank you Dr. Koller and Barbara for your labor of love. One thing I will never forget, from our 90-91 humane letters seminar: William, Duke of Normandy, Battle of Hastings, 1066.
Stephen Busk says:
January 13th, 2017 at 7:22 PM
Thank you Kerry (& Barbara) for your tireless service to our children, students and faculty. You have been a great example of a our life together and a willingness to serve the Lord in whatever city you are called to do that. God Bless you both.
Thomas Duddy (Oahu) says:
January 13th, 2017 at 8:21 PM
I don't know how to express my graditude for all Kerry's service and sacrifice, as well as Barb's constant support. Remarkable, inspiring, good, true and beautiful. Thank you for teaching us all.
Dan Lindeken says:
January 14th, 2017 at 10:06 AM
Thank you Kerry for your many years of faithfully serving the Lord and enriching all of our lives with wisdom and love.
Dianne Cunningham says:
January 14th, 2017 at 12:01 PM
Thank you doesnt begin to express the gratitude and deep appreciation we have for you (and Barbara)in your dedicated service, your leadership and the inspired ideas that have made Trinity Schools what they are. Generations will benefit from the Lord's work through you!
Jane Buch Appleton Branch says:
January 14th, 2017 at 7:47 PM
I believe what has been done at Trinity Schools is one of our greatest missions to the world to spread the light of Jesus and uphold creation as our Lord intended: all that is good, beautiful, truthful. Thank you Kerry and Barbara for hearing the Lord and serving with your whole hearts.
Clem Waltersk says:
January 16th, 2017 at 3:53 PM
Kerry, I'm so happy for you and Barbara now that you're both " retired". Please don't travel very far away as we need your wisdom. Clem Walters
Tom Caneff says:
January 17th, 2017 at 12:34 PM
Kerry, THANK YOU. Nancy and I are grateful to have raised five children and those five Trinity Graduates are forever blessed because of their life in the People of Praise and their education at Trinity School / River Ridge. That blessing will undoubedly pass on to their children and grandchildren ......... Without you and Barbara, well, we'd shine less in the world!! May the Lord bless Both of you for many years to come.
Terri Porter says:
January 25th, 2017 at 12:12 PM
Thank you, Kerry and Barbara, for expending your life in service of educating our children.
Jim Schenkel says:
February 8th, 2017 at 1:59 PM
After all of this, it still seems like "We've only just begun."
So, you're right - one has to wonder what the Lord has in mind for his next feat.
Thanks to you and Barbara for all the efforts - blood, sweat, and tears - you both gave in our behalf.
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