Trinity Valley Head of School Search

January 6, 2025

Dear TVS Families,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are thrilled to announce that Ben Courchesne will be our next Head of School beginning July 1, 2025. The Head of School Search Committee unanimously recommended Ben following a far-reaching, nationwide search – a process during which Ben stood out for his breadth of experience, student-centered leadership style, and alignment with TVS’s mission and values.

Ben comes to Trinity Valley from The Pingry School in New Jersey, where, as Associate Head of School, he helps to lead advances in the school’s strategic priorities, academic and student life, donor relations and development of the senior leadership team. Ben has a proven history of fostering academic excellence, driving institutional growth and cultivating strong school communities, all of which make him highly capable and attuned to our mission of nurturing a lifelong love of learning.

The search committee was particularly impressed by Ben’s diverse experience across academic, operational, student-life and athletic leadership at top-tier independent schools. We are confident that Ben’s dedication to student growth and well-rounded approach to leadership will help to bring Trinity Valley School into a new era of success, building upon our strong legacy and fostering a thriving learning environment for all students.

In the coming weeks, we will share more about Ben’s plans for returning to campus and getting to know our students, families, faculty and staff. Please see below for a letter from Ben sharing his enthusiasm for his selection.

We applaud the excellent work of our Head of School Search Committee, led by Amar Tanna and Laura Miller, our search firm, The Education Group; and all the members of the community who welcomed Ben and our other visiting candidates to campus during this process. Thank you for making this a truly collaborative process.

We look forward to seeing Trinity Valley School continue to grow and flourish under Ben’s leadership. Thank you, as always, for being a part of our community.

The TVS Board of Trustees

 A Letter From Incoming Head of School Ben Courchesne

Incoming TVS Head of School Ben Courchesne with wife Audrey and children (left to right) Alden, Elle and Ronan. 

Dear Members of the Trinity Valley School Community,

It is a wonderful honor to be welcomed into the Trinity Valley School family. I am excited to join a community so deeply committed to fostering excellence in and beyond the classroom. I am inspired by the community's warmth, engagement, and authenticity that greeted me during the search process and our shared belief in the school’s bright future. I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the Board of Trustees to lead at this pivotal time and appreciate the thoughtful work of the search committee, especially Laura Miller and Amar Tanna, whose high standards, transparency, and genuine kindness affirmed that TVS would be an excellent match for me and my family. 

The more I learn about Trinity Valley’s history, the more I am inspired by the vision of its founding headmaster, Stephen Seleny. His belief that “learning how to learn is as important as acquiring knowledge” established a foundation for a school that values academic rigor and moral development in equal measure. In every conversation I’ve had—with faculty, students, parents, or alums—I’ve heard echoes of Mr. Seleny’s commitment to fostering exemplary scholarship, intelligent citizenship, broad constructive interests, and spiritual and moral growth. It became clear that I can contribute authentically to this community because the school’s values mirror my own. I learned early in life that being smart alone is not enough; the world needs citizens equally committed to goodness and knowledge, and the best education is not merely a private good but a call to a public contribution. This profound alignment is one of the many reasons TVS attracted me. I am committed to honoring and evolving Mr. Seleny’s legacy while helping to define a vision for the school’s future.

As I prepare to join this remarkable community, I feel fortunate to be stepping into a school with so many evident strengths: an exceptional faculty, engaged students, distinctive programs, and a supportive community. Strong partnerships among students, parents, faculty, and alums sustain these pillars of success. I am eager to connect with you, listen to your experiences, and work collaboratively to strengthen a culture of trust, transparency, and shared purpose. Together, we can ensure that TVS continues to thrive, embracing its traditions and innovations to meet our students’ passions and the world’s great needs. 

Returning to Texas feels like coming home for my family and me. A little over eighteen months ago, we left Texas for New Jersey with mixed feelings—excited for the new opportunities at Pingry School but sad to leave a place that truly felt like home. Our last stop in Texas was Panther City BBQ, a much-needed stamp on our Texas BBQ passport. When my kids heard we’d be moving back to Texas, their first reaction was a twinge of sadness to leave their newfound friends in New Jersey, followed quickly by questions about swimming holes, TexMex, and our distance from Big Bend. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to reconnect with the vibrant culture and warm community of Texas and for my family to join such an exceptional school in an incredible city. Our youngest, Alden, is especially eager to cheer on the Horned Frogs football team. At the same time, our daughter, Elle, has many questions about the city’s arts scene, and our oldest, Ronan, is already researching Fort Worth’s thriving aerospace industry. We look forward to becoming a part of this dynamic city and calling it home.

In the coming months, I will work closely with the Interim Head of School, Mr. George King, the senior administration team, and the Transition Committee to ensure a smooth transfer of leadership and uninterrupted student experiences. I am eager to learn from veteran faculty, longtime friends of the school, and the students themselves as we navigate this important period together.

Thank you for the warm welcome and the privilege of joining this extraordinary community. I look forward to meeting each of you, listening to your stories, and serving Trinity Valley School. Together, we will continue to uphold and advance the mission of this beloved school and to keep the students at the center of all we do. 

Be sturdy and full of hope,

Ben Courchesne
Incoming Head of School

November 19, 2024

Dear Trinity Valley School Community,

We are thrilled to announce the next phase in our search for Trinity Valley School's next Head of School!

As you know, the Search Committee has been working diligently to identify the best possible candidates to lead our school. With the expert guidance of The Education Group, we have reviewed a large and impressive pool of applicants.

Here's a brief overview of the process since our last communication in October:

• Initial Review: The Education Group narrowed the very robust field and conducted Zoom interviews with 36 candidates
• Search Committee Review: 12 candidates were recommended to the Search Committee for further assessment
• Semi-Finalist Interviews: 8 semi-finalists were invited to Fort Worth for in-depth interviews with the Search Committee the weekend of November 9th and 10th. Through this process, the Search Committee identified 3 finalists we believe meet the needs as expressed through the community feedback  

We are now excited to invite you to meet the three exceptional finalists who will be visiting campus in early December!

Mark your calendars for these important opportunities to meet the candidates in the Middle School Assembly Hall (MSAH):

Candidate 1:

• Tuesday, December 3rd at 2:15 pm
• Wednesday, December 4th at 8:15 am

Candidate 2:

• Thursday, December 5th at 2:15 pm
• Friday, December 6th at 8:15 am

Candidate 3:

• Monday, December 9th at 2:15 pm
• Tuesday, December 10th at 8:15 am

 The names and profiles of each candidate will be released closer to their visit, giving you time to familiarize yourself with their backgrounds and experience.

Your participation in this process is invaluable. We encourage you to attend these meetings, engage with the finalists, and share your feedback with the Search Committee via an assessment tool that we will provide.  

To ensure a balanced representation of perspectives, we ask that members of our community attend only one session with each candidate.

We are confident that together, we will find the next great Head of School for Trinity Valley School.

Sincerely,

Amar Tanna ’99 & Laura Miller

TVS Head of School Search Committee Co-Chairs
(On behalf of the TVS Head of School Search Committee)

October 2, 2024

Dear Trinity Valley School Community,

We are pleased to share an update on the Head of School search process. Additionally, thank you to George King for the tremendous work he is doing as our Interim Head of School. We hope you've had a chance to see him around campus and experience his dedication to our community firsthand.

Please visit the Head of School search tab on the Trinity Valley School homepage for ongoing updates and information. The position profile is available there and can be found here: TVS Head of School Search Webpage. The search is attracting a large and very strong pool of candidates; The Education Group (our search firm) is encouraged by the level of interest.

Earlier this fall, over 600 members of our community participated in a survey to help inform the search process. We appreciate your thoughtful feedback. Based on your survey responses, the following are some of the most important professional and personal qualities we are looking for in our next Head of School:

Professional Qualities

• Inspires and motivates the wonderful faculty, staff, students, parents and broader community of Trinity Valley School
• Articulates a forward-thinking vision for Trinity Valley School
• Demonstrates a balance of decisiveness and inclusivity in decision making

Personal Qualities

• Empathy for well-being of our community
• Willingness to be an active presence in our community
• A good listener to perspectives and concerns from all stakeholders

The survey also identified the following as some of the most important challenges for our next Head of School:

• Honoring Trinity Valley School's mission
• Maintaining a strong sense of community

Thank you to those who participated in the in-person meetings with The Education Group earlier this fall. Your insights have been invaluable. We are listening to our community and are excited to partner with you in finding the next great Head of School for Trinity Valley School.

Upcoming Timeline 

• Late October: The Search Committee will review candidate materials and select semi-finalists.
• Early November: The Search Committee will conduct interviews with semi-finalists.
• Early December: Finalists will visit campus to meet with the community

We are committed to keeping our community informed throughout the search process. Please stay tuned for further updates.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Amar Tanna ’99 & Laura Miller
TVS Head of School Search Committee Co-Chairs

August 12, 2024

Dear Trinity Valley Community,

Over the past several weeks, our Board has been deeply engaged in the search for an Interim Head of School to lead Trinity Valley over the next year. Today, we are pleased to share that we have identified an excellent fit for this role. We are thrilled to welcome George N. King, Jr. as Trinity Valley’s Interim Head of School for the 2024-25 school year.

Our aim is to ensure the school and its mission are upheld by a Head of School who is not only qualified and knowledgeable, but also aligned with the values we deeply hold. We have found that in George, and we are excited that he will be joining us by the start of the school year.

George comes to Trinity Valley with an impressive experience of assisting schools through leadership transitions. George stood out among a competitive pool of more than a dozen candidates, and we were drawn by his extensive record of calm, principled leadership in transitional circumstances, and his proven ability to listen and lead multiple constituencies during times of change. We are confident that George’s leadership will be instrumental in guiding Trinity Valley forward through our own changes at this time in the school’s life.

We know George will be a strong addition to our community, and we hope you will join us in warmly welcoming him.

We remain deeply grateful for Adam Wojtelwicz’s efforts to lead our school over the last few months, and we appreciate his swiftness in embracing this role during a difficult situation. Adam will be returning to his role as CFO effective immediately, and we thank him for his continued dedication to TVS. As we shared previously, Sandy McNutt will also continue in her role as Special Assistant to the Board and Liaison for Community and Faculty. We know she will be a great resource for George as he becomes acquainted with our school.

Our faculty and staff will have the opportunity to connect with George during our faculty in-service period this week. We also look forward to offering an opportunity for students and families to meet George and we will share more details about this soon.

Importantly, a detailed plan for our search for a permanent Head of School continues with intention and care, and we look forward to sharing more about this process soon. We remain committed to conducting a thoughtful search guided by our community, with wide participation and input, and we thank you for your continued support in this process. Ensuring the long-term success of our school and the children we serve is at the forefront of all that we do, and we thank you for your continued support of our Search Committee in leading this process.

Sincerely,

Brant Martin ’88
President 

Kit Ulrich
Vice President

July 9, 2024

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