Meet the Founding Headmaster of Great Hearts Blossom Rock in Apache Junction

Last year we announced that Great Hearts Blossom Rock, the newest Great Hearts academy would be opening in the Blossom Rock master‑planned community of Apache Junction in the fall of 2027. We are now excited to share the news that Conal Tanner has been named as founding headmaster of the K-5 classical academy.

Families interested in the new academy are invited to Cheers to Blossom Rock: Meet the Headmaster on April 18 from 6–8 PM at the Blossom Rock Community Clubhouse (The Dutch), located at 10075 S. Dutchman Dr. This special evening will give parents the opportunity to enjoy wine, light hors d’oeuvres, and great conversation while getting to know the new headmaster and connecting with other families.

RSVP for the event at: https://enrollaz.greatheartsamerica.org/meet-the-headmaster

Tanner steps into the role with more than a decade of teaching and leadership experience across three countries, a deep commitment to classical education, and a personal history that mirrors the very tradition Great Hearts seeks to preserve. He last served as the assistant headmaster of Glendale Prep.

“Conal Tanner is exactly the kind of leader we want shaping a new Great Hearts campus,” said Brandon Crowe, Superintendent of Great Hearts Arizona. “His variety of classroom experience, his perspective from serving in and leading several different schools, and his unwavering commitment to classical education make him uniquely prepared to build a joyful, orderly, mission‑driven school community from day one.”

Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Tanner was homeschooled until age 16 before attending a classical boarding school in Pennsylvania. This early experience reflected the Great Hearts model. After graduating from Thomas Aquinas College in 2007, he served in the Canadian Army, earned an education degree, and later taught in Colombia, where he met his wife, Pilar. They now have three children.

Tanner joined Great Hearts as a fifth‑grade teacher at Archway Veritas before moving to Chandler Prep to teach literature, composition, and Humane Letters. Though trained as a primary teacher, he discovered his passion in the upper school, and a brief return to Canada only deepened his appreciation for the Great Hearts mission. After teaching in multiple countries and school systems, he says Great Hearts stands apart for its culture, alignment, and commitment to classical education.

“What keeps drawing me back to Great Hearts is the mission, the commitment to forming students through Truth, Goodness, and Beauty,” Tanner said. “I’ve taught in several countries and many types of schools, and nothing compares to the culture, alignment, and joy you find here. Leading Great Hearts Blossom Rock is an incredible opportunity to build that kind of community from the ground up, where students and teachers can thrive together.”

When Great Hearts Blossom Rock opens in Fall 2027, bringing the network’s nationally recognized classical model to families in Apache Junction and the East Valley, the school will be Great Hearts’ 25^th campus in Arizona.

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.