Honorary Alumnus

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  Eric Lombardi

  Eric Lombardi says that all he has done is “go to school” since he was five years old. St. John’s School is indeed fortunate that he has! This year’s Honorary Alumnus arrived on campus in 1996 as the new Middle School Dean of Students, just after the School established a standalone division specifically for students in Classes 6 through 8. Within three years, Eric was named the Head of MS, a role he fulfilled through 2015. When he departed SJS to lead Fort Worth Country Day, the Middle School was a well-oiled machine, full of teachers and coaches who shared his passion for teaching and supporting students, especially those navigating their early adolescent years. As a former colleague put it, ”No one person had a greater impact on helping establish the St. John’s Middle School division than Eric. His impact on the school in general, and the Middle School division in particular, continues to resonate more than a decade after his departure.”
  
  A product of independent school education, Eric started as a Kindergartener in his favorite school as a student, the progressive Lamplighter School in Dallas, TX, where he currently serves as a Trustee. He finished his schooling at St. Mark’s School of Texas before earning his AB at Dartmouth. Eric began teaching and coaching right out of college, serving five year stints first at Casady School in Oklahoma City and later at Head-Royce School in Oakland, CA, earning a yearlong master’s degree from Duke University between them.
  
  Eric left California for St. John’s for the same reasons that he had been originally attracted to Casady and Head-Royce, namely that all three schools offered him the opportunity to do many different things he was passionate about in a K-12 setting. While he held administrative roles in all three schools, among the three he was able to teach History and Spanish and in middle and upper school divisions. He was also able to coach volleyball at the varsity level, where upon reflection today, he feels he made the most direct impact on students in his care. While all three schools remain outstanding institutions that contributed to his professional growth, there were a few things about SJS that kept him in Houston for almost twice as long as his first two school tours combined.
  
  In pursuing school opportunities, Eric was very intentional about finding places with strong mentors who could help him learn and grow as he advanced his career. As he considered St. John’s among other opportunities, he found just what he was looking for in the combination of then Head of Lower and Middle School Pat Adams and Middle School Counselor Sylvia Bartz. In addition to this “dynamic duo,” Head of School Philip Cannon, who had been trying to convince Eric to join the St. John’s team for years (“stalked him” Cannon has proudly said), provided him grounded guidance during his tenure. Most importantly, Eric really liked his colleagues and students at St. John’s. These strong connections kept Eric at SJS for nearly twenty years, until he was called to run a school of his own.
  
  Reflecting on his time at St. John’s, among Eric’s best memories are of the Big Bend trips that all Class 8 students attended each year. He acknowledged that while they encountered some daunting things there over the years, the authentic challenges found in that setting consistently offered remarkable and deeply impactful experiences for all involved, students and teachers alike. He was quick to identify and praise all those colleagues who contributed to this collective experience, noting the trip leaders over the years he participated ... Bobbie Oldfield, Kim Keany, and MARTY THOMPSON ’91.
  
  This year marks Eric’s 40th year as an educator, his 11th as the Head of School of Fort Worth Country Day. When asked what inspires him to continue to work in his chosen field, he is quick to point to two things—students and teachers. He deeply values the opportunity to be around the next generation and to play a part in their growth and development during their K-12 years. At the same time, he cherishes working with colleagues who share his calling of wanting to work with these same students. It’s as simple as that. And as effusive as Eric is about those with whom he interacted at SJS, they recall him with high praise. A former MS student shared recently, “The lessons I learned from Eric continue to guide me. His emphasis on kindness, inclusion, and perseverance became the foundation of how I lead and serve others. His influence still echoes through my life and through the lives of the many students who were shaped by his care and vision.”
  
  Recognizing his good work and enduring impact on the students and teachers with whom he worked while at St. John’s, it is most fitting that the Alumni Board has named him an Honorary Alumnus of our school.