In 2017, the U.S. Department of Education presented its coveted National Blue Ribbon School award to just 50 private schools. Saint Peter’s Catholic School in Waldorf, Maryland, was one of them. Lieutenant Colonel John R. (J.R.) West began his career as an educator after serving 21 years in the United States Marine Corps. In 2009, when West took over as principal of Saint Peter’s, the school was suffering from declining enrollment, rapidly shrinking coffers, and a host of other issues, including mounting discipline problems. Some in the community suspected that West was actually brought in to gracefully close down the facility. But West had other plans.