STRIDER — The Strider Academy Board of Directors has named Kelvin Newton as the fifth headmaster, or chief administrator, in the 47-year history of the school.
Newton, of Sumner, has served the past two years as head coach of the Strider varsity and junior high football programs and as a teacher.
He succeeds David Arrington, 67, of Coffeeville, who served as Strider headmaster from December 2012 until his recent retirement — a period of four-and-a-half years.
Damon Stroud, president of the Strider Board of Directors, said this week that Arrington had told the board in early spring that he would be stepping down as headmaster at the end of the 2016-17 school year and that they should begin a search for his replacement.
“After having some discussions with a couple of outside candidates, the board voted last week to extend an offer to coach Newton,” said Stroud, who noted that Newton is enrolled in a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools’ leadership program.
“Kelvin is well liked by our students and parents, and the board feels he is the right person to guide Strider Academy into the future and to make her the best and the preferred choice for the children of Tallahatchie County and the surrounding areas who choose an independent school.”
The 26-year-old Newton, by far the youngest headmaster ever at Strider, said he realizes he has some big shoes to fill as he assumes this new leadership role.
None of those soles are any bigger than those of the legendary Joe B. Bradshaw, who, like Newton, coached football at Strider for two years before also becoming its headmaster. That was in the early 1970s.
Now, Newton becomes the first Strider alumnus — he is a 2009 graduate — to take the leadership reins of the school near Charleston.
Newton, a graduate of Mississippi Valley State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in hyper health, physical education and recreation, will continue coaching both Strider football teams.
He also may continue to teach in the classroom, Newton noted, saying that he has taught English, history and health during the two years since returning as a full-time employee of his high school alma mater.
As the new leader, Newton said he hopes to play a positive role in “continuing to improve and grow the school, get the community more involved and get Strider back to where it used to be for the kids.”
