Dr. Tom Stewart to Lead the Chesterton Academy of Bowling Green
A new Catholic high school coming to Southcentral Kentucky in August 2026 has announced its founding headmaster.
Dr. Tom Stewart, an educator with 32 years of experience in K-12 and higher education, was selected to serve as the first instructional leader of the Chesterton Academy of Bowing Green, a Catholic high school opening in the DeVries Pastoral Center at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The school, affiliated with the award-winning Chesterton Schools Network, will feature a classical curriculum and is currently accepting applications for 9th and 10th graders for the 2026-2027 school year.
“We are blessed to have Dr. Stewart at the helm of this important new education opportunity for our community,” said Dr. Gary Houchens, Chesterton Academy’s board chairman, in announcing the selection.
Stewart, of Bowling Green, has served as an English/language arts teacher, school district administrator, and college professor. Since 2019, Stewart has served as Educational Recovery staff for the Kentucky Department of Education, and as Educational Recovery Director since 2023. He will retire from that position in June 2026 to assume the role of headmaster at the Chesterton Academy. Stewart holds a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree from Western Kentucky University.
“We are looking forward to bringing Catholic high school education back to Bowling Green for the first time in nearly 60 years,” said Stewart, who will assist in reviewing student applications, hiring teachers, and preparing the school for its August opening.
