SAN MARCOS—The San Marcos Baptist Academy board of trustees named Brian Guenther as the school’s president, effective Aug. 1.
Guenther, who has served as the academy’s interim academic dean since May, will succeed Jimmie Scott, who is retiring as president and will move into a new role as president emeritus.
Scott will assist with the new president’s transition while working in the academy’s development office through Dec. 31.
“After a prayerful interview process, the board of trustees has selected a man that many in the San Marcos and Texas Baptist community already know and respect,” said Clay Sullivan, chair of the board of trustees. “Dr. Guenther is incredibly well prepared to lead students and staff, and we are very confident in him as our new leader.”
Sullivan said Guenther “has a definite love for and a calling to the academy and its future.”
Before he was named interim academic dean, Guenther served three years as associate academic dean for the academy’s lower and middle schools.
He worked previously at the Master’s School of San Marcos, serving eight years as head of school and three years as music teacher and chaplain.
He also was a teaching pastor for River Stone Community Church in San Marcos from 2004 to 2011 and served five years as a youth and worship pastor at First Baptist Church in Kingsland. He is a member of First Baptist Church in San Marcos.
A certified superintendent, principal and teacher, Guenther received his doctorate in education, educational leadership and administration from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Christian higher education administration from Dallas Theological Seminary and a bachelor of music degree in music education from UMHB.
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He is president of the Accreditation Commission of the Texas Association of Baptist Schools.
“Dr. Guenther will have some big shoes to fill as he follows President Scott,” Sullivan said. “Mr. Scott has committed an enormous portion of his life to SMBA, and the students and staff, no matter their position, have been blessed by his guiding hand. He has chosen to retire from the position of president, but his love and care for the school will last forever.”
San Marcos Baptist Academy, founded in 1907, is an accredited college preparatory school affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
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