What Moves People to Choose Principia?

YOU’VE MOST LIKELY HEARD THE STORIES OF PEOPLE BEING MOVED TO MOVE TO PRINCIPIA. Some families long for a deeper sense of community founded on shared spiritual values; others want an enhanced educational experience for their children. For some, it’s a homecoming, returning to well-known places and familiar faces; for others it’s a new adventure, full of exciting opportunities and fresh perspectives. But for all, it’s an opportunity to enrich their lives and broaden their horizons.

In this article, you’ll meet some of Principia’s newest families and hear what moved them to move—the simmering of inspiration that began in one person and expanded to encompass a whole family. They traveled—some a great distance—leaving behind old expectations to embrace the new. Some came intending to lend their professional strengths to Principia while others sought out an excellent education for their children. In the end, they all found community, support, opportunity, and a new home.

An Uncommon Journey

It’s not common for a family to land in Elsah, Illinois with no prior knowledge of Principia College or Christian Science, but the Zinns are no ordinary family. A recent transplant from Chicago, Shawn Zinn was a full-time mom, raising her three children in the quaint river town while her husband David Zinn worked remotely from their new home. Unbeknownst to her, dominos were falling into place.

After exploring community hours at Principia’s fitness center, the Zinns felt embraced in an atmosphere of love that led them to visit the local Christian Science church. Then the dominos started falling more rapidly. Church led her to enroll her oldest child, Sophie, at CedarS Camps. CedarS sparked an interest in Principia School.

“I love that I get to interact with prospective families and talk to people about our principles— Truth and Life and Love.”

“This is all God-directed, you know?” reflects Shawn. Sophie’s positive experience in Middle School led Shawn and David to enroll younger siblings Oliver and Zoe in Principia’s Lower School, and before long, Shawn was perusing Principia’s job listings. The chance to be near her kids and contribute to the community that had profoundly changed their lives was a no-brainer. “I had to make a decision, and obviously I was going to choose my kids,” Shawn says.

Now working in the School’s Admissions department, Shawn has an opportunity to pay it forward. “I love that I get to interact with prospective families and talk to people about our principles—Truth and Life and Love,” she says. “That is one thing I love about being at Principia right now. I have come to realize that whatever my journey is, that still, small voice will lead me to the next step.”

A Beautiful Place to Bloom

For Sarah and Richard Brokensha, their family’s interest in Principia first took root in a hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean. A presentation hosted by their local church awoke an idea that had been planted by Sarah’s mother a few years earlier: What about Principia? “It [had this] incredibly grounded sense of love in action. . . . It just seemed like a haven—this incredible city on the hill that was shining its light,” says Sarah. But moving from South Africa to Illinois felt impossible at the time, with their children already enrolled in university.

“It just seemed like a haven—this incredible city on the hill that was shining its light.”

However, when their youngest son began attending Principia College in 2020, the notion of moving continents didn’t seem so odd anymore. Moving first to Connecticut and then to California in 2021, Sarah and Richard kept their sights set on Principia. In 2021, the call came. Principia College was looking for a Capital Projects Manager and, given Richard’s extensive background in project management, they were hoping he was the person for the job. “. . . It felt like an unfolding of what we always wanted to do, but up until then the way wasn’t very clear,” says Sarah.

By February 2022, the Brokenshas found themselves at Principia, Sarah joining the Principia College Admissions team a year later. The journey was finally complete. And even with their youngest, now a Principia graduate, off to new horizons, the Brokenshas are still enjoying the fruits of their new home. “At Principia, everyone wants you to do well,” says Richard. “I feel like I’m really in the right place to contribute to Principia.” “I’ve always said you can bloom where you’re planted,” adds Sarah. “And I really believe Principia is a place where you can bloom. And that’s beautiful.”

Moved by Spiritual Life

Perhaps it’s not surprising that for Principia College’s new Director of Spiritual Life and College Chaplain Roger Gordon, the decision to leave active duty as an Army chaplain in Fort Campbell, Kentucky and move to Elsah, Illinois with his family was rooted in deep prayer. After a fulfilling three-year stint on active duty where he supported soldiers and families from Christian-based faiths, Gordon began to turn his sights to a deeper focus on Christian Science ministry, though the way forward was not yet clear. While speaking with Maya Dietz—a fellow Army chaplain veteran and Dean of Students at Principia College at the time—about leaving active duty, the how suddenly presented itself. “She said, ‘If you’re interested, I’m actually about to list this job’ . . . and it sounded exactly like me,” said Gordon.

Leaving the support of the military community was difficult at first, but Gordon’s wife, Christian Science practitioner Dr. Inge Schmidt, PhD, says the choice to enroll their children at Principia was ultimately an easy one. “It was really about offering our kids an education that’s driven by developmentally appropriate learning that’s hands-on, practical, [and focused on] critical thinking.” As it turns out, the blessings weren’t limited to a stellar education, nor were they a oneway street. Since making the move, Schmidt’s and Gordon’s impact on both Principia campuses has been immediate. Whether with Gordon leading the student trip to Boston, or with Schmidt, who spends a day each week in the College’s practitioner’s office and serves as president of the Principia Parents Association, students are feeling their loving support and guidance.

Now, almost two years into their Principia experience, the family of five has found their rhythm in the community, at school, and in their shared ministry work. “The things I was nervous about—having community and moving to Elsah—ended up being such great blessings,” says Schmidt. “My hope and expectation are that our kids are going to grow up at Principia, and that is such a blessing,” adds Gordon.

“It was really about offering our kids an education that’s driven by developmentally appropriate learning that’s hands-on, practical, [and focused on] critical thinking.”

Finding a New Sense of Home

The journey home is rarely a straight path. In fact, sometimes we don’t even know that home is where we’re heading. For Michael Slater and Dr. Tiffany Slater, PhD and their two boys, it’s been a serpentine route, but the destination made it all worth it.

A year ago, the Slaters were small business owners, Michael was a successful basketball coach, and sons MJ and Donovan were lighting up St. Louis’s youth basketball scene. But after a chance encounter with an old friend, Principia basketball coach Jay Blossom, dovetailed with comments they’d heard about Principia from others, the Slaters gave the School a look.

“I’d heard Principia had changed quite a bit since my days competing against them as a student at Country Day,” says Slater, “and we quickly learned what made Principia such a good place. It’s very open and welcoming. My wife and I always joke, ‘Is this real? When will we see what’s behind the curtain?’ But for us, it never really changed.”

Upper and Middle School principal Sam Dry and the innovative Middle School curriculum were instrumental in the Slater’s transition to Principia. “There are a ton of great schools with good education. But what caught our attention is how the classroom activities connect to real life.” When touring the Middle School’s renowned Civil Rights Museum, for example, “It was refreshing to see the sincere desire to learn about other cultures and have the kids dig in,” he remarks.

At a Middle School Evening of Excellence shortly after the Slater’s sons enrolled, Dry mentioned an open role in Principia’s IT department and offered to make a referral. “I didn’t think much about it, and I wasn’t going to bother her because she’s busy, but a few weeks went by and she actually followed up,” Slater recalls. “That just speaks to the quality of the people at Principia. I was so appreciative.”

After the interview process was complete, Michael Slater became Principia’s new software support specialist, and the Slater family was fully integrated with Principia School. Today, MJ is enjoying Upper School, Donovan is in eighth grade, and Dad is doing double duty as an IT professional and Middle School basketball coach. “The transition was nothing short of seamless,” Slater says. And that is how you know you’ve arrived home.

“There are a ton of great schools with good education. But what caught our attention is how the classroom activities connect to real life.”

One Step at a Time

For former boarders Marcus (US’02) and Stephanie (Nisbet) Stanley (US’02), the move to Principia was a long time coming. The Upper School graduates kept tabs on their alma mater from Seattle, but it wasn’t until an impromptu tour of the campus during a summer road trip to a Christian Science camp that they realized they could envision a future here as well. “You could see how much care and thought [Principia puts] into the development of the whole person and preparing students to excel in the world,” says Marcus. “It was almost like reverse engineering,” adds Stephanie. “In that moment it became clear: this is where we want to be; it feels like the right place. But we had no idea how it was going to work.”

“You could see how much care and thought [Principia puts] into the development of the whole person and preparing students to excel in the world.”

There was plenty to keep them in Seattle: family, work, a beloved house. But they kept their goal in mind, trusting the feeling that was leading them to Principia. And gradually, step by step, the way became clear over six months. When the call came that Principia had space for their children, Stephanie headed out first with the kids, while Marcus wrapped up their lives in Seattle. “I never felt like I was on my own out here,” she says, commenting on the strength of the Principia community. “Everybody at the School was constantly checking in with me. It brought that sense of home.” Marcus joined them six months later.

“I’ve been happy to see that [Principia] walks the talk and that it wasn’t just a great marketing pitch,” says Stephanie. “[The School] is really focused on character education and leadership in this integrated learning setting.” Marcus adds, “To talk to each of [our children] and see the ways in which they’re thriving and loving what they’re doing is wonderful. We love being a part of this community.”

Moved to Move Back

If you’d asked Julie Beck (C’93) about Principia last year, she’d tell you it was in her rearview mirror. After four years in Missouri, during which her children attended the Lower and Middle Schools, Beck and her family heeded the call of home and packed their bags for California. But returning to the oceanic views wasn’t the experience they expected, and it wasn’t long until her son, Walter, told her he wanted to return to Principia. “He missed the kids, and the academic challenges and opportunities Principia provides,” says Beck. 

“Principia gives kids opportunities to discover things about themselves that they would never have discovered on their own.”

Walter planned to enroll as a boarding student for the 2024–2025 school year, but when the time came, he asked his family to move with him. The next thing the Beck family knew, they were packing up the house and returning to the Midwest: new house, new job, same school. “We love the small class sizes, the facilities, and all the opportunities the kids have at Principia,” she says. Opportunities like educational travel and an emphasis on whole-person education allow students, in Beck’s words, “to grow in the world.” 

And while her son looks forward to jumping back into engaging academics and an exciting sports program, Beck is looking forward to the future. “Principia gives kids opportunities to discover things about themselves that they would never have discovered on their own,” she says. “I know it’s going to set them up for the future.”