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Announcing Head of School Retirement

Rob Short, Trinity’s fourth head of school, will retire in 2027 after 38 years at Trinity
Trinity has announced that Rob Short will be retiring as the school’s fourth head of school at the conclusion of the 2026-27 school year. Short notified the board over the summer of his intention to make 2026-27 his retirement year. 
 
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as head of school and for the experiences and relationships that have made my time here filled with meaning, purpose and lifelong friends,” Short wrote in his letter to the community. “We have accomplished so much during my time at Trinity, and we’ve done it all together, which is so very Trinity.”
 
This year will mark Short’s 12th as head of school and his 38th year at Trinity. After beginning his career as an educator in 1989 as a student teacher, Short taught in the science department for two decades as well as Theory of Knowledge, the foundational class in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. He was Trinity’s assistant head of school for six years before being appointed head of school in the fall of 2015. 
 
“On a personal level, what I have most loved is the inspiration and faith in humanity that I feel as a result of working so closely with talented young people, professionals and devoted parents,” Short continued. “To see that intersection of youth, exploration and wonder is extraordinary.”
 
Cynthia Coleman, chair of the board of trustees, shared a message of gratitude for Short’s steadfast commitment to Trinity’s mission to be a place where students are known, challenged and encouraged to discover their paths.
 
“For over eleven years, Rob has led Trinity Episcopal School with wisdom, warmth and steady devotion to our mission,” wrote Cynthya Ellis, chair of the board of trustees. “The Reynolds Innovation, Robotics & Design Center, robust enrollment and Trinity’s forward thinking in educational technology research and innovation are some of the successes we have experienced under Rob’s leadership…. We are all deeply grateful for everything Rob has given to Trinity.”
 
The search committee for Trinity’s fifth head of school will be chaired by Chris Ellis ’81, alumnus and former board chair, and Jana McQuaid, current board vice chair. “The goal of the board and the search committee is to ensure a seamless transition,” said Coleman. “We want Trinity Episcopal School to find the Head of School for the Trinity of today and the school we will build for tomorrow.”
 
To help guide the process, Trinity will be working with IndySchool Consultancy, a specialist in independent-school leadership. “Trinity enters this transition from a position of strength with a clear mission, a talented faculty, dedicated staff and a supportive community,” wrote Ellis and McQuaid in a letter to the community. “We are confident the search will attract outstanding leaders who will be eager to call Trinity home.”
 
“We will have many opportunities this year to celebrate Rob and his legacy,” said Coleman. “In the meantime, please join me in thanking Rob and his wife, Suzy, for their years of dedication to our students and our school.”
 
To learn more about the search process, please visit the Head of School Search page.
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Trinity Episcopal School

3850 PITTAWAY DR | RICHMOND VA 23235-1099 | Phone: 804.272.5864 | Fax: 804.272.5865 Email: mail@trinityes.org