About Michael C. Wirtz

There are so many reasons that this position and St. George’s captured my imagination. Certainly, I knew of St. George’s by reputation, but as I dug into the materials, I grew more impressed with and more excited by the school and all that is happening. The school’s size and its foundations as an Episcopal school are real strengths, both helping foster a sense of community united in shared values. Further, I find personal and professional resonance with the idea of constructive service to the world, a line from St. George’s mission that aligns with the reason I moved from the research lab to the classroom to start a career in education. Additionally, the work the community has done to support Our Horizon is inspiring and speaks to some of the work I have done in other schools.

Challenges and opportunities can be opposite sides of the same coin. In the highly polarized moment in which we live, one of the greatest challenges we face in schools (and more broadly) is engaging in civil, reasoned discourse with individuals with whom we might disagree.

In my experience, some of the most impactful learning experiences for students have been born of moments when they engage and develop relationships with individuals who have different ideas, experiences, backgrounds from their own. When a school can create an authentically diverse community and then foster open, respectful dialog across differences, it is an opportunity for students to learn from one another and to leverage the wisdom and experiences of all. This work is challenging, and yet at the same time, doing it well opens up students to new perspectives, helps them develop empathy, and forges stronger relationships and ultimately a stronger sense of community.

Two things immediately come to mind: my family and my sense of humor. My wife, Hilary, and I have two children, both of whom have only lived on school campuses. Each of us values the experience of living in such a unique, close-knit environment, surrounded by students, colleagues, and friends. We are very much looking forward to moving to campus and to building new relationships at St. George’s.

Regarding my sense of humor, I often say that if you aren’t having fun in school, you are doing it wrong. I am quick with “dad jokes,” trying to lighten the mood when appropriate. School is obviously a place of learning - both intellectually and personally - but it should also be a place where students and adults experience joy. I aim to have fun at school, while also working hard.

My first year of teaching was really challenging, both for me and for my students. At the bottom of the final exam, I wrote, “Any final thoughts or comments?” not knowing what to expect in return. When I graded the exams, I was surprised at the number of positive responses I had from my students. They thanked me for the year and commented on what they learned, even beyond chemistry. Those notes were really important to me as a first year teacher and they highlighted the impact that teachers have on their students. They were so meaningful, that I kept the notes, along with others I have received over the last 24 years. I so value the relationships I have formed with former students, seeing them establish their lives and careers post college. I am grateful that my career in education brought these individuals into my life and me into theirs.

I want to approach this year as a scientist, collecting data and making observations. There is a lot of wisdom and history within the student body, adult community, and the St. George’s alumni body. I am eager to hear their stories, both what is working, what did not go well or was difficult, and thoughts on the ways we might make the school better going forward. One of the admirable characteristics of St. George’s is that it does not seem like a place content with its many successes. The school has tremendous ambitions for its educational program and for the continued growth of faculty and staff. I am excited to join a school that is always working to improve itself, and my goal is to tap into the experiences and knowledge of those already within the community to accelerate my learning process.

I grew up in a family that valued hard work and prioritized education. I grew up working for my grandfather, who was really my first boss. He taught me about work ethic, expecting 100% effort and holding me to high standards, no matter the task. Further, my parents placed a high value on my education and that of my brothers. Neither of my parents attended a four-year college, so they were keen to provide this opportunity to us. I have tried to carry these lessons into my own life and career, as well as to instill them in my children.

I’m pretty obsessed with golf, a sport I started playing when I was very young. It’s my greatest form of relaxation. When it comes to podcasts, it should be no surprise that they are golf-related, with two favorites being Chasing Scratch and The Golfer’s Journal.

As for music, I swore as a teacher that my taste in music would stay up with my students. Unfortunately, I gave up and thus my music tastes are frozen in the late 90’s. 

We have a poster in our house with our unofficial family motto: Work hard and be nice to people. I hope our children see us living out these values and internalize them as they go through life. Raising kind, happy people is our primary goal as parents.

I played the trombone from elementary school to high school. Although I don’t practice or play regularly, I have been known to make guest appearances in school concerts.