Our School

Mission & History

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Values and Beliefs Our History The Evolution of Our Campus

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Our Mission

Our mission is to prepare our students for college and for life in a community defined by robust academics, inspiration, engagement, and care.

Values and Beliefs

Abiding values are essential to the health of a community. They bind us together, build trust, create a sense of belonging, give us a common language, and make clear our priorities. They help others know us as Spartans and help us know ourselves. Living these values is how we prepare students for the world ahead.

The core values of The Steward School are:

inspiration
innovation
care & respect
individuality
civil discourse
academic achievement

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Our History

An Educational Pioneer

In 1972, Helen Dixon founded the school in a church basement in the west end of Richmond as a small, non-sectarian, co-educational alternative to the larger private schools in the area. During the 1972-73 school year, there were 12 faculty members and 90 students in grades K-10. The school moved to a new building at the corner of Gayton and Ryandale Roads, and in 1977, a graduating class of three students became the first Steward alumni.

A Robust Foundation

Ronald Messersmith served as Steward’s first head of school from 1972-75. With six organized sports teams in the school’s first year, the nickname “Spartans” was chosen, perhaps because the young school was characterized by the “austerity, frugality, simplicity, and courage” of its founding, according to the book "A Story of Success" by the school’s second headmaster, Paul R. Cramer. Mr. Cramer transformed The Steward School during his 19-year tenure (1975-94).

A Transformational Gift

In 1994, the Board of Trustees named Stephen Stackhouse the third headmaster, and he remained in this role through 1997. In 1997, the school’s 25th anniversary, Steward received an anonymous $15 million gift, which set the wheels in motion for significant improvements to the campus and served as an investment in the school’s future. At the time of the gift, 279 students were enrolled in grades K-12.

A Growing Campus and Community

Roger Coulombe was named Steward’s fourth headmaster in 1997, and his tenure was a period that saw extensive construction on campus. Mr. Coulombe served the school until his retirement in 2004 and was succeeded by Kenneth Seward as the fifth headmaster that same year. Mr. Seward remained in the position until 2013 when Dan Frank stepped into the head of school role.

The Evolution of our Campus

The Steward School established its current campus at Gayton and Ryandale Roads in January 1973. The original structure, Dixon Hall, included classrooms, a library, a multipurpose room, and administrative offices and is now home to the Lower School.

In 1974, a small two-room structure was built to house arts and science. Additions in 1982, 1988, and 2008 expanded the structure, resulting in the Middle School building as it is today.

G. Thomas Taylor Hall was completed in 1993 to serve as the math/science building, followed by Cosby Hall, a major addition to Taylor Hall, in 1999. Taylor and Cosby Halls now house the Upper School, which was renovated and expanded again in 2009 as a part of the capital campaign, "Building a Legacy. One Steward at a Time."

The original gymnasium, built in 1977, was torn down after the completion of the current Athletic Center during the summer of 2000. Athletic facilities now include three athletic fields, a state-of-the-art baseball stadium, and nine tennis courts outside, as well as two gymnasiums, a wellness classroom, the Ray M. Tate Weight Room, and a training room. In addition, the Spartan Shop is housed in the Athletic Center, and is a favorite spot for snacks and apparel.

The Paul R. Cramer Center for the Arts opened in the fall of 2002, establishing a dramatic focal point for The Steward School’s rapidly growing campus. Completed in the same year, Wilton Hall includes administrative offices, a boardroom, a technology lab, and the Middle and Upper School Library.

The school’s most recent addition, the Bryan Innovation Lab, is a 21st-century, problem-solving environment located on the southwest corner of the campus. Opening its doors in 2013, this cutting-edge facility includes two classrooms, a wellness studio, a teaching kitchen, and an extensive garden, surrounded by wetlands and a forest.

A half-century after its humble beginnings, Steward has grown to a student body of more than 700 in grades junior kindergarten through 12, a faculty and staff of 170, and it fills a sprawling 37-acre campus. Steward is known as a top-tier school in the Richmond metropolitan area for the unique educational experience it provides its students and their families.