The New Face of Trumbull's Christian Heritage School

After years of teaching, coaching and running a school at the same time, Brian Modarelli has landed as headmaster at Christian Heritage School.

And for the first time, he has just one job: leading. In one of his earlier jobs, at another Christian School, he taught elementary school and calculus.

"I'd be tying a kid's shoe one minute and teaching integration by parts the next minute," said Modarelli, seated his office at the school recently.

He chose CHS for his latest job because it fits his goals of "academic development and spiritual mentoring."

Modarelli is also a ordained minister who is working toward a doctorate in educational leadership. His oldest daughter is in college, and his other three children attend CHS, which serves grades K-12.

"Each of the schools I've been in were in need of re-engineering," Modarelli said.

While CHS is in good shape, any facility could always use improvements, he added.

"I enjoy finding schools that have a great faculty and a great infrastructure," Modarelli said. "The school [CHS] has a very strong commitment to [spiritual development]."

It also has a strong academic program. The two "don't have to be mutually exclusive," the headmaster said.

He added that he prefers teaching at Christian schools. "I really love it. I wouldn't do anything else," he said.

Math and faith do not clash in the Modarelli's eyes. Both run on basic principles and even a slight change could make a difference.

"If you change one axiom even a little bit, you change the whole system. We build our worldview around basic assumptions," he said.

Modarelli said he believes the Bible is true and the beginning point of wisdom and knowledge. But he also wants to improve academics as well as faith. "This school has a lifelong commitement to serving God and developing students spiritually."

According to the school's newsletter, the Kingsmen Chronicle, Modarelli was selected for his work at schools.

At his last school, he:

• Developed a comprehensive AP program (with AP enrollment of 330)

• Elevated renewable scholarships offered to graduating class from under $700K in 2006 to $4.5 million in 2010

• Prepared the school to launch a one-to-one technology program in 2011

• Reengineered the school’s international boarding program

• Elevated the school’s focus on the academic imperative of Christian education

"Prior to Ben Lippen School, Brian held roles of increasing responsibility at various Christian schools, including Assistant Principal, Principal, and Upper School Head," Modarelli said. "We are grateful for how the Lord has led us to Brian and his wife, Tara."

Modarelli also worked at a church in Florida that had a school, and raised the membership in both.

"I'm very glad to be here," Modarelli said.