Gerald Porter A 12–year veteran of Christian education, who also has a background in business, is the new high school principal at Ben Lippen School in Columbia. Gerald Porter most recently served as the headmaster of Whitesburg Christian Academy in Huntsville, Ala. for four years. He also has experience as a principal and a teacher at Christian schools in Florida and Missouri.

Porter replaces Les Lehman who is retiring after 29 years as high school principal and is preparing to serve as the new alumni coordinator at Ben Lippen School.

Ben Lippen School headmaster Brian Modarelli says Porter brings a bold and compassionate approach to his service to the Lord.

“Gerald is clearly a high powered, innovative, visionary with great management talent,” Modarelli said. “He has a remarkable blend of skills including a solid, comprehensive philosophy of Christian school education, marketing, and development. I am also impressed with his spiritual sensitivity and integrity.”

Porter says his Christian education philosophy centers on the parents as the primary source for the education of a child.

“Parents must embrace this idea and teach their children what they know about God and explore with their children the things they do not know,” Porter said. “When this change occurs, it will have a dramatic impact on our churches and our schools.”

Porter also believes the goal of Christian schools should be to produce “wellrounded students who are prepared academically, spiritually, and socially to have an immediate impact on their culture.”

In addition to education, Porter brings a wealth of experience in the business world. For six years he owned multiple Domino’s Pizza stores in the Kansas City metropolitan area, achieving the top growth percentages in the United States, and was nominated for Franchisee of the Year.

Porter will begin at Ben Lippen School July 1.

Ben Lippen School is an interdenominational college preparatory Christian school for grades Pre–K through 12 and is a ministry of Columbia International University. For more information visit www.benlippen.com