Educational Philosophy
The Making of an Excellent Education
Pursuing all that is True, Good, and Beautiful
All that God created is permeated with goodness, truth and beauty, and discoverable as such through careful observation, study and reflection. Human cultures too, in their music, literature, poetry, philosophy, as well as scientific and mathematical explorations, by God’s grace, also reflect rays of truth, goodness and beauty. Thinking about, discussing, and creating these things reawakens wonder and ennobles us. This is why we believe that this type of learning is a worthy and life-long goal, in itself.
“A culture is social. It’s a way of life with others. Being a student at Trinity is a matter of being drawn into and formed by the particular kind of life that faculty and students experience together… It’s a way of thinking and being. It’s about what a person values and how one integrates those values into a life.” –Dr. Kerry Koller
Faculty Guiding a Community of Learners
Trinity’s faculty, who themselves are a community of learners, are central to the school’s educational culture. Each teacher is a life-long learner who delights in a multitude of subjects and regularly engages in conversations about his or her interests in the common faculty rooms. Together, they are striving to pursue all that is good, true and beautiful. These faculty then bring a deep passion for their subject matter, along with contagious enthusiasm for it, to the students in their classrooms. In doing so, they are inviting the students to join them in this community of learners.
Cultivating Exceptional Mental Habits
Learning at Trinity is both exciting and deeply enjoyable. It nurtures a wide range of valuable mental skills and habits of mind. Trinity students learn to read and reflect on long and complex works of literature, such as Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, with insight and maturity. They develop creativity in solving mathematical and scientific problems. They learn how to ground their arguments in textual evidence while also listening respectfully to opposing viewpoints that may be equally plausible.
Classical Methods, Thoughtful Use of Technology
Trinity values technology, for example, students study and use computer coding junior and senior year. However, it does not dominate our students’ experience. Students use books, not tablets. Most courses focus on traditional, hands-on learning: reading and annotating texts, conducting science experiments, painting and drawing, singing in choirs, composing at the keyboard, and writing responses by hand. We employ technology thoughtfully—when it enhances learning—within a curriculum that prioritizes human connection and engagement.