It began in 1976 as a goal shared by a dedicated group of parents: to find or create an educational program that would better challenge their children.
Their first inquiries, beginning with the Episcopal Church and gaining momentum with the National Association of Independent Schools, led them to articulate a vision for a school that would inspire and motivate students while instilling Christian values and morals, cultivating an appreciation for the fine arts, developing foreign language skills and setting high standards for teaching and learning.
That vision was realized on September 8, 1977, when Canterbury School opened as a nondenominational, self-supported school with 89 students in Kindergarten through Grade Six. Though Trinity Episcopal Church provided space for Canterbury in its first three years, the founders chose to operate as an independent school to maintain greater flexibility in the curriculum and to encourage a wider range of families to participate.
Led by Headmaster Jim King, the school enrolled an increasing number of students each year. In 1980, Canterbury moved into an unoccupied Fort Wayne Community Schools building on Covington Road. Again, parents were the driving force, painting walls and scrubbing halls. As Canterbury grew, so did its reputation as a school offering rigorous academic programs.
It seemed only natural that those programs extend to college preparation. When Jonathan Hancock arrived as the fourth headmaster in 1983, he oversaw Canterbury’s expansion to Grade 12. And in 1987, the year the first seniors graduated from Canterbury, the school grew yet again, opening a campus for grades nine through 12 on Smith Road. Programs for students as young as 2 were added that year, providing opportunities for children of every age to meet and embrace the educational challenges envisioned by those caring and dedicated parents who first served as an example of what can be achieved.
Canterbury School Founders
Dr. and Mrs. William R. Cast
Dr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Paflas
Mr. and Mrs. Michael V. Parrott
Mr. and Mrs. James K. Posther
The Rev. and Mrs. C. Corydon Randall
The Rev. and Mrs. Paul W. Smith
Mr. and Mrs. William E. Spindler
Based on research by Michelle Niemann, author of "Canterbury School: Twenty-Five Years of Excellence"
