After conducting a national search, the Board of Chesterton Academy of Ave Maria announces the hiring of our Founding Headmaster, Dr. Mark Jahnke.
Dr. Jahnke brings nearly 20 years of experience in Catholic classical education to Chesterton Academy of Ave Maria.
He and his wife, Maria, have lived in Ave Maria for the past 12 years and recently welcomed their ninth child into the world. They both hope that their seven youngest will all joyfully graduate from our school!
Formed in the Catholic Studies department of the University of Saint Thomas, MN, Dr. Jahnke attained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees there. He earned his doctorate in Catholic Education from Pontifex University after successfully defending his dissertation, When and How to Discern Founding an Independent Catholic School.
He spent the majority of his years in Catholic classical education as a high school humanities and Latin teacher, though he has taught a variety of classes in 6-12 and presently teaches Rhetoric and Poetics at Ave Maria University. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Jahnke served in a variety of leadership roles, including the Dean of the Rhetoric Stage, Assistant Principal, and Headmaster of the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy in Ave Maria (now Ave Maria Catholic Academy).
Dr. Jahnke’s recent experience as the Director of Accreditation for the Chesterton Schools Network will greatly aid him in his role as Headmaster, as will his long association with the Network: he taught Latin, American history, and Algebra at Holy Family Academy in Minneapolis, out of which grew the very first Chesterton Academy, Chesterton Academy of the Twin Cities. He fondly remembers visiting the school (which started humbly in one room!) and enjoying their production of the play, “Come Rack! Come Rope!” Dr. Jahnke greatly anticipates seeing our own Chesterton Academy of Ave Maria students in their first dramatic production.