New head of St. Edward’s Middle School feels ‘blessed’ and ‘excited’
STORY BY REGINA MARCAZZO-SKARKA (Week of August 8, 2024)
Photo: New head of St. Edward’s Middle School, Jason Dowdy.
The incoming head of St. Edward’s Middle School, Jason Dowdy, eagerly awaits the sight of a bustling campus when faculty meetings commence next week, and the 155 students in his care show up for fall classes on Aug. 21.
After being chosen from a field of 25 candidates, Dowdy and his wife Sara transferred to Vero’s barrier island in June from their former posts at Trinity Preparatory School of Florida, Orlando’s top-ranked private school. He said they love the small-town atmosphere and being near the water.
“We got up and saw the sunrise and the rocket launch at the same time. I’m very blessed,” he said. “This is a special opportunity. I’m excited to join the St. Ed’s community and the larger Vero Beach community.”
Sara Dowdy joins St. Ed’s this fall as a sixth-grade science teacher and cross-country coach.
St. Ed’s Head of School Stuart Hirstein is happy to have them both. “We’re excited. They’re all in on the community,” he said.
After the Dowdys’ children graduated from Trinity Prep, Jason Dowdy felt ready for a new challenge, but he also knew that continuing to work with middle school kids and teachers was exactly the right role for him.
He was familiar with St. Ed’s from the days when he coached track and football. The school conducted a national search to replace Allison Baratta, who returned to her home state of New Jersey after heading up the middle school for two years.
Even before Dowdy rose to the top of the contenders, he stood out from the pack. “Jason just shone from the start,” said Hirstein, citing his experience, his “calm, collective demeanor,” his teaching methods, and the way he thinks about improving programs. “It also helps that he has experience as a middle school head in Florida.”
The Dowdys moved to Florida 25 years ago. Education runs in Jason Dowdy’s family. His great-grandfather was a superintendent of schools, his father was an elementary school principal and his sister is currently a middle school teacher in his native Washington State.
Dowdy holds a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in biology and a Master in Teaching degree from the University of Washington College of Education, where he met his wife. He also completed some professional development courses in educational leadership at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.