George Sanker, New Headmaster
434-220-8122 or gsanker@covenantschool.org
Distinguished educator, public charter school principal founder,
and youth advocate continues pursuit of
Covenant School’s tradition of academic excellence
The Board of Directors of The Covenant School welcomes Mr. George Sanker as the new
Headmaster beginning with the 2011-12 school year.
A distinguished scholar, founding principal of two Imagine Charter schools, youth
advocate, former CIA analyst, accomplished college athlete, husband and family man,
Sanker overcame adversity in his youth, growing up in inner-city Washington D.C., to go
onto what has amounted to an extraordinary professional career in the field of
education.
“I am truly excited to join the team at Covenant as we seek to fulfill our mission of
rooting our students in that which is true, good, and beautiful,” said Sanker. “With this
foundation we believe our students will be prepared to honor God with their gifts in
whatever calling they may pursue.”
Dr. Tim Meakem, Chairperson of Covenant’s Board of Directors, said Sanker is an ideal
Head of School.
“George couples his profound faith with his systematic pursuit of excellence, which
makes him a perfect fit for Covenant,” Meakem said. “He brings a great deal of
intellectual vision and vigor to the Head of School position and we are confident he will
help Covenant in its continual mission to strengthen its ties and be a steadfast partner
with the Charlottesville community.”
Covenant’s current Interim Head of School, Spencer Burton, agreed Sanker is the right
man for the job.
“He has an amazing life story,” Spencer said. “We believe his struggles, accomplishments
and belief in God have shaped him in a unique way. We are confident he will provide
the academic, athletic, and spiritual leadership for which the Covenant School has
become known during its 26 year history.”
Sanker’s presence will not only be felt at The Covenant School, but also will reverberate
throughout the wider community and region as he is one of the first—and currently the
only—Head of School at any private school in the Charlottesville area who is from a
racially diverse background.
Sanker hopes that, working with the school leadership, he will be a catalyst in breaking
down barriers and enhancing educational opportunities for all.
“I consider it an honor and privilege to serve in this new capacity and hope to lead by
example,” he said.
Despite facing economic adversity growing up in the inner-city neighborhoods of
Washington, D.C., Sanker excelled in school, earning a scholarship to attend prestigious
Gonzaga College High School.
His academic prowess and determination in grade school opened the door to an
opportunity to attend Colgate University, also one of the most renowned educational
institutions in the country.
His hard work not only paid off in the classroom—he graduated with a B.A. degree in
Political Science—but on the field as well, as a four-year letterman in football.
“I have always believed that the habits that form a great athlete should translate back
into the classroom and create the foundation for a true academic scholar,” Sanker said.
After Colgate, Sanker served his country as an officer at the Central Intelligence Agency,
where he specialized in analyzing data pertaining to Southeast Asia.
Sanker returned to his high school alma mater of Gonzaga as a math teacher, which
began him in his lifelong pursuit to become the best public educator possible.
When he eventually left Gonzaga, he began working at Washington Christian Academy
(WCA), where he taught physical education and then Biblical studies. He started his
religious education at WCA, teaching during the day and attending seminary classes at
night, eventually attaining his M.A. in Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary.
During his last year at WCA, he lived on campus at Georgetown University, a Catholic
University in Washington, where he served as a Protestant Chaplain at night.
As the first Protestant Chaplain-in-Residence at Georgetown University, he demonstrated
his ability to cultivate relationships and dialogue in a non-denominational Christian
community, the kind of school community Covenant fosters.
Moved to help other youths who faced the same challenges he faced when he was
growing up, Sanker around this time also founded Best Men, a multi-faceted character
development program for adolescent males.
As its executive director, he touched hundreds of lives in at-risk communities from
Washington, D.C. to Milwaukee, WI.
“His work with the Best Men project in Washington, D.C. shows that George lives
beyond himself,” Burton said. “I have no doubt he will increase our school community’s
ability to do the same. I anticipate that Charlottesville as a whole will be blessed by
George’s position at Covenant.”
After a year of tackling the issues associated with at-risk youth, he was inspired to
continue his education.
He came to the University of Virginia in 2002 to begin sociology education with
renowned UVa professor, Dr. James D. Hunter, the Director of the Institute for Advanced
Studies in Culture.
They developed not only a strong professional, but also personal connection.
Dr. Hunter characterized Sanker as possessing a “charisma native to the best leaders that
brings people together even while moving them forward.”
Sanker’s focus within his doctoral studies at the University of Virginia emphasized the
challenges of moral formation in our modern technological society.
Covenant’s distinctive feature is the school’s commitment to Christian Education. The
school’s motto is “Academic Excellence Under the Sovereignty of God.” This requires
that the Head of School serve as Covenant’s spiritual leader, a role for which Sanker is
well-qualified.
Greg Thompson, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, formed a fast and enduring
friendship with George when their paths crossed during their doctoral studies.
“George’s personal background and his commitment to both the church and to the
practices of Christian education have formed into a man of compassion, strength,
humility, and courage—each of these expressing his life in Christ,” said Thompson.
Sanker left UVa at the end of 2004 to go to back to Washington D.C. and founded
Imagine Hope Community, a K-8th grade public charter school, which became the fastest
growing charter school in the DC area during his three years of leadership. It was also
during this time that the school won the National School of Character Award given to
only one of the 53 schools in the Imagine Schools network.
In 2008, the board at Imagine Hope Community asked him to launch a second K-8th
grade public charter school for them in the community of Longmont, Colorado, a suburb
of Denver. The school’s opening was a tremendous success, with 520 kids enrolling on
its opening day.
From July of 2009 to the present, Sanker has worked as a director for Ridgeview Classical
Institute. The Institute serves in a consulting capacity in the implemention of classical
liberal arts programs in schools throughout Colorado.
Sanker, with his wife Jeannette, and four of their sons are delighted to return to
Charlottesville. Their fifth son is a senior at Georgetown Prep in Washington.
“Charlottesville has provided our family with a wonderful season in our life and we are
looking forward to building new roots in this community,” Sanker said.
One of his primary goals will be to achieve broad-based student recruitment and
retention. Covenant currently serves 510 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade
12, with 30 percent of families receiving financial assistance. Sanker has a strong track
record of getting the community to entrust their children to the schools under his
leadership.
“We are especially honored with this unique opportunity to serve The Covenant School,
an outstanding educational option for the youth in the Central Virginia area,” Sanker
said.
You may contact George Sanker at 220-8122 or gsanker@covenantschool.org.
About George Sanker:
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Intelligence Analyst, Central Intelligence Agency
Protestant Chaplain-in-Residence, Georgetown University
Founding Executive Director of Best Men, a multi-faceted character development
program for adolescent males
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High school mathematics teacher, Gonzaga College High School, Washington
D.C.
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Theology, Social Studies, Physical Education teacher, and Dean of Students,
Washington Christian Academy, Silver Spring, MD
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Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Sociology, University of Virginia
Founding Principal, Imagine Hope Community Charter School, Washington, D.C.
Founding Principal, Imagine Charter School at Firestone, Firestone, CO
Director, Ridgeview Classical Institute, CO
About The Covenant School:
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Covenant is a non-denominational Christian school, serving over 500 students
from twelve surrounding counties across Central Virginia in Pre-K through Grade
12.
Covenant opened its doors in 1985, serving 46 students.
Covenant offers a traditional, comprehensive, college-preparatory academic
program taught through a Christian worldview.
Covenant offers nine varsity interscholastic teams for young women and ten
varsity sports teams for young men.
30% of Covenant students receive financial assistance.
Minority students comprise 16% of the student body.
Students complete at least 120 hours of community service during their high
school years to instill the importance that, as citizens, it is our responsibility to
give back to our community.
Covenant is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS)
and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
You can learn more about Covenant by visiting www.covenantschool.org