The Board of Trustees of Principia School, a co-educational college-preparatory school for preschool–grade 12, is excited to announce Dr. Merry Sorrells as Principia’s next Head of School, starting in July 2022. Selected from a pool of candidates from around the country, Dr. Sorrells comes to Principia School with over two decades of experience in educational leadership.

“I am excited to join a school with a future-ready educational environment,” said Dr. Sorrells. “In an ever-changing world, the philosophies and practices of education continue to evolve, and Principia has done a magnificent job of keeping abreast of these shifts while remaining grounded in their foundational strengths. I could not be more thrilled to join this team of talented educators committed to providing such a dynamic educational experience for its students.”

Dr. Sorrells has 24 years of extraordinary educational experience as a head of school and administrator in faith-based private schools in the south. She has served in top leadership positions for over 15 years at St. Paul’s Episcopal School and St. Martin’s Episcopal School and as director of advancement and director of admission at Isidore Newman School.

Beyond her roles within schools in the New Orleans area, Dr. Sorrells has dedicated extensive work in executive leadership to educational institutions, serving as a founding board member for a charter school and a board member at three private schools. In 2019, she was named the first female president of the board executive committee of the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest, a nonprofit association of 89 independent schools. She has also served as the secretary of the Board for the Southwest Association of Episcopal Schools. Additionally, Dr. Sorrells has been a part of the standard committees for both these associations for several years.

Dr. Sorrells has an Ed.D. in Executive Leadership from the University of Holy Cross, a Master’s in Educational Administration from the University of New Orleans, and a B.A. in International Relations from Principia College.