Residing on the Pebble Beach campus the last five years with his family while leading the upper division, Dr. Dan Griffiths is certainly no stranger to the life of a Pirate. Now, the entire School stands to benefit from his decades of leadership in PK-12 education, research, and academic accomplishment in his new position as President of the School.

Dr. Griffiths has long been a believer in the “one school” approach to PK-12 education. Telegraphing this philosophy in his Winter Letter from the President, Dr. Griffiths stated, “I am a firm believer in the many advantages that come from engagement with families for up to 14 years, and the benefits of building community and curriculum with expert faculty at each developmental stage.” Having spent a decade before Stevenson at a PK-12 school as division head among other roles, he understands the long-term value of this curricular continuity. “Schools like Stevenson have the rare opportunity to align curriculum and facilitate effective transitions between divisions, and provide an opportunity for teachers with a wide variety of experiences to learn from one another.”

Additionally, Dr. Griffiths mused in his Winter Letter on the incredible opportunities afforded Stevenson students by the cross-divisional interactions between lower, middle, and upper divisions, something he has experienced firsthand with his own children. “I have witnessed the impact of being surrounded by older students on my own children, who joined the lower division five years ago in PK and grade 3, watching them benefit from their daily interactions with such great role models.” In his new role, he is looking forward to engaging with teachers, parents, and students across all three divisions, and as he concluded in his Winter Letter, “spending time in classrooms observing the remarkable teaching and learning that happens on a daily basis.”

At Stevenson’s Family Weekend April 21-24, you will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Griffiths yourself, as we officially introduce him to the extended School community at an investiture ceremony scheduled for Friday, April 21, at 9:00 a.m. We invite all Pirates to celebrate this unique moment in School history and observe the important cross-divisional relationships that Dr. Griffiths has touted: every Stevenson PK-12 student body will be in one place for the first time in many years. We look forward to your attendance at this very special event, either in person, or via the live internet feed to be provided for the ceremony.