Head of School Transition to Take Place on July 1, 2020

It is in a spirit of gratitude and recognition of God’s provision, that we are excited to announce the next phase of our Head of School transition plan. Starting July 1, 2020, this next school year, Jeff Brooke, current Associate Head of School, will transition into the Head of School role and Steve Clum, our Head of School, will transition into a newly created role, Executive Director. 

For 46 years, Steve has been the heartbeat of this school and a continuation of a rich and God-honoring legacy of educating, training, and nurturing children for godliness and excellence, equipping them to engage and transform their world for Jesus Christ. We are so grateful for Steve’s humble and faithful leadership and the impact he will continue to have on our school community.

Today does not mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one, but rather demonstrates the continuation of how God has always provided and continues to provide for us. Today’s announcement marks a milestone in our journey; part of a process to create a seamless transition for the school leadership.

Jeff Brooke was identified as a candidate for Head of School in the summer of 2018. That began a transition plan that culminated in Jeff joining the WCGS leadership team as Associate Head of School in the summer of 2019. While at Wheaton Academy, Jeff served in several roles of increasing responsibility including Vice Principal, Head of the Bible Department, Dean of Student and Spiritual Life, and Head soccer coach. As already shared, we are now excited to announce Jeff’s transition into the Head of School role here at WCGS!

Additionally, the Board is thrilled to have Steve assume the new role as Executive Director, in which he will continue to support several key operational functions of the school while advancing important initiatives including development, accreditation and certification, and continuing to mentor Jeff in his new role just to name a few. In this role, Steve will continue to report to the Board of Directors.

From Steve Clum:

Over the past 46 years, 33 as either principal or Head of School, it has been my privilege to serve the students, families, faculty, and staff of WCGS. In 1 Timothy 1:12 we read – “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.” And two verses later we read, “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” As I have served and led, I have known God’s grace, His strength, His faith, and His amazing love. It hasn’t been easy, and it has taken all of me, but I would do it again because of you. My heart is full and thankful.

There are so many things I love about the Grammar School. The culture the Lord has grown here is amazing –  the loving, caring Christian community, the relationships that we enjoy with students, parents, colleagues, grandparents, and how we seek to live out Proverbs 3:27 – “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.”  We have been intentional to speak life into one another.  But most importantly, this is God’s School.  It stands on the Truth of God’s Word. We have sought to always make decisions that are honoring to the Lord and grounded in the truth of His Word.  We have stayed true to our Statement of Faith, Mission, and Vision for the school.

There is so much more I would like to say, particularly when it spans 46 years, but time does not allow it. My life verse is Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” It has been a joy to live out this verse while serving at WCGS. Thanks for working with me. Thanks for allowing me to lead. Thanks for loving me. Thanks for encouraging me. You have left your mark on my life, and I will be forever grateful.

From Jeff Brooke:

My family and I are honored to be stepping into this role at Wheaton Christian Grammar School. This is a place that I have loved for years as a student, an alumn, a grateful parent, and now in this position. I am thankful to the Board of Directors, the faculty, the staff, the alumni, the families, the students, but in particular, Steve Clum.

Steve gave me high fives when I was a kindergartener at WCGS, he shook my hand when I graduated 8^th grade, he wrote me notes after big games in high school, he welcomed me back for chapels when I worked at Wheaton Academy, and has invested in me in countless ways over the past year.  My family and I are truly thankful for God’s faithfulness in all of this.

God has and always will be at the center of Wheaton Christian Grammar School.  What an honor to be a part of this place! 

I am humbled to serve this school because I know how it has influenced so many lives.  As you can imagine, this school has been a place where people gave their lives to Christ, told their testimony for the first time, asked a teacher to mentor them, experienced joy in chapels, worshipped God through their gifts, grew in their faith, established lifelong friendships, and saw Christ do his work.

It is also the place where students challenged themselves in the classroom, persevered through challenging content, fell in love with a subject they would pursue, longed to be like the teacher, and decided they would use their mind to engage their world.

I am thoroughly excited about the future of this school. It has always been a place that pursues excellence for the glory of Christ. In my time here, I have experienced an overwhelming excitement to press on. You see, there is a firm belief in what God has for us as we move into the future. There is a belief that God can raise up his children to be people who love learning, value growth, establish quality relationships, think critically, worship the King, provide good news for this world, and establish their faith in these critical years of their development. I am honored to help us continue in the call God has on all of us to continue building a school that is truly a light in the darkness.

Today does not mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one, but rather demonstrates the continuation of how God has always provided and continues to provide for us. Please give thanks with us for God’s provision.