Dr. Prehn will be joining the Trinity community officially July 1, 2010.  He and his wife Celia will be moving here from San Antonio. Although we truly miss Evie and Geoffrey Butler, we knew they were temporary.  Mr. Butler has well-prepared faculty, staff, and Board for the new Head.  The vision for the future of Trinity School is bright. 
The letter from the Board of Trustees can be found at this link: https://www.trinitymidland.org/podium/default.aspx?t=204&nid=528166
link to a letter from Dr. Prehn:   https://www.trinitymidland.org/ftpimages/285/download/Dr%20Prehn%20Letter%20Feb%2022.pdf
The following letter was posted by the Search Committee:
Letter from Search Committee:

PROGRESS REPORT

HEAD OF SCHOOL SEARCH

      In May 2009 the Head of School Search Committee began the by interviewing three different search firms and finally settling on Carney, Sandoe & Associates, with Tim McIntire working hand in hand with us as our search consultant.  In October Mr. McIntire came to visit with the school community to help us solidify what the school community needed and wanted in a new head of school.  This included our on-line survey and thank you to all who gave us input.  Out of that process we spent the next month refining our School Head Profile which is currently posted on our website.

The main themes out of our Head of School Profile are the following:

1. Possess a good background in finance
2. Have previous head or commensurate experience
3. Be able to embrace our faith based bent including our chapel program
4. Work in an environment of divergent learning
5. Build constituent relationships
6. Be able to live in and embrace Midland

Further through this process the school community determined that our new head must possess the following personal characteristics:

1. Possess a genuine Christian faith
2. Have the ability to initiate, organize and follow through to solve problems and bring about positive change
3. Have a collaborative leadership style
4. Have a current understanding of pedagogy and strategies for expanding curriculum
5. Be firm and calm under pressure, diffusing conflict and resolving differences
6. Be a persuasive advocate for Trinity
7. Have effective interpersonal skills and comfort with all constituencies
8. Be able to raise money

Beginning in November, 2009 Mr. McIntire used this profile to obtain potential candidates for us to review.  While Mr. McIntire vetted numerous potential candidates, he provided the committee with full dossiers on nine candidates which he felt met our specific qualifications.  During the month of January the committee spent a considerable amount of time reviewing these candidates’ dossiers and decided we wanted to complete 45 minute phone interviews with four of the candidates.  The entire committee was involved in each call. 

Based on these phone interviews we invited three candidates to Midland for off -site interviews with the entire search committee.  These lasted anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, followed by a private meeting with Geoffrey Butler and a school visit.  Up until this point, the entire process was confidential.  Most of the candidates had head or similar experience, had previously worked in Texas and had spent many years in independent, faith based schools.  We had an impressive group of candidates, however, one stood out heads and shoulders above the rest.

      After much discussion we decided to extend to Dr. Walter “Chip” Prehn, III an invitation for a three day visit.  He, and his wife Celia, met with many groups from school, had dinner with the search committee and their spouses and met with the board of trustees.  Thank you to all that provided comments from your interactions with the Prehns.   The responses from those who met Dr. Prehn and Celia were overwhelmingly positive.  In addition, the search committee checked numerous references and we received unsolicited, but welcome, information from individuals whom have either worked with Dr. Prehn, know some of his parishioners or have friends in San Antonio.  All were also very positive.  Once on campus, Dr. Prehn and Celia wowed the entire committee. In retrospect, we felt as if our head of school profile was written with Dr. Prehn in mind.

      For many reasons, on February 1, 2010 the search committee presented Dr. Prehn to the board of trustees as our recommended candidate for the head of school position.  He has much to offer Trinity, including:

1. His love of schools
2. His passion for education
3. His belief in educating the whole child and his love for the Chapel program 

Steve Person

Candyce Roybal

Search committee Co-chairs