President’s Welcome - Stevenson School
Source: https://stevensonschool.org/about/president-welcome
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:16
President’s Welcome - Stevenson School
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President’s Welcome
For nearly 75 years, Stevenson has been a place where growth, learning, excellence and joy come together on California’s beautiful Monterey Peninsula. As our community and programs continue to evolve, our purpose remains: to develop students who embrace curiosity, lead with empathy, and navigate life with purpose, kindness, and courage.
From Pre-K to Grade 12, across our Carmel and Pebble Beach campuses, we create an educational experience grounded in a belief I’ve become certain of through decades in schools: joy and academic rigor are not mutually exclusive. They rely on each other. When students feel that glow of achievement after mastering something challenging – solving a math problem that initially didn’t make sense, seeing positive feedback on an essay they wondered how to start, or getting on the field after weeks of practice – it motivates them to keep trying and be open to new experiences.
Excellence runs deeper than achievements. It is found in students’ willingness to challenge themselves, in their curiosity, and in their drive to understand more deeply. A rigorous education is one where learning lasts a lifetime, not just long enough to get through the test. It’s about building skills that equip students to do things they couldn’t do previously and acquiring knowledge that changes how they see and engage with the world. We honor achievement while keeping our focus on the bigger picture of developing students who will make meaningful contributions to society. This approach serves our students well across all areas, from academics to athletics, where we recently received an honorable mention among California’s top sports schools, and in the arts, where our students express creativity through musical theater productions, visual exhibitions, and performances that bring our community together.
In recent years, we have enhanced our commitment to excellence through our new mathematics, science and engineering center opening fall 2026, expanded place-based curriculum, international X-Term opportunities, and athletic tours that broaden perspectives beyond competition.
For our students to realize their full potential, we make developing a sense of belonging a core component of our work. Students thrive when they feel seen and valued within our community that includes peers from across the U.S. and more than 20 countries. By exposing them to diverse viewpoints and experiences, we help them develop empathy, compassion, and the ability to collaborate across differences.
Our motto, “Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re” (gentle in manner, resolute in deed) guides our approach. We don’t simply move students through grade levels; we honor each stage of their journey, helping them develop the tools they need to navigate and positively impact a diverse world. To learn more about our vision for the future and how these priorities will continue to shape Stevenson, I invite you to
explore our strategic vision
.
Having met alumni spanning generations, I can attest: Stevenson changes lives. Our graduates become curious explorers, creative problem-solvers, and compassionate leaders who carry forward the values that define our community.
We welcome you to join this legacy. Visit our campuses, meet our students and faculty, and experience the spirit that makes Stevenson a place where students don’t just succeed – they thrive.
Start of School Year Message to Enrolled Stevenson Families
Dr. Dan Griffiths
President
Read Dr. Griffiths’ Bio
Related Articles
Fall Semester Highlights
A Vision for Stevenson: The Why Behind Joy and Rigor
State of School Address
An independent Pre-K–12 boarding and day school located on California’s Monterey Peninsula
Carmel Campus
Grades Pre-K–8
Street address: 24800 Dolores Street, Carmel, CA 93923
Mailing address: P.O. Box AP, Carmel, CA 93921
T: 831.574.4600
Map/Directions
|
Campus Map
Request Information
Pebble Beach Campus
Grades 9–12
3152 Forest Lake Road, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Need Pebble Beach access? Contact us before visiting.
T: 831.625.8300
Map/Directions
|
Campus Map
Request Information
Copyright 2025 | Stevenson Boarding & Day School |
Policies
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Privacy
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Ethicspoint
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Notice of Non Discriminatory Policy:
Stevenson School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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President’s Welcome
For nearly 75 years, Stevenson has been a place where growth, learning, excellence and joy come together on California’s beautiful Monterey Peninsula. As our community and programs continue to evolve, our purpose remains: to develop students who embrace curiosity, lead with empathy, and navigate life with purpose, kindness, and courage.
From Pre-K to Grade 12, across our Carmel and Pebble Beach campuses, we create an educational experience grounded in a belief I’ve become certain of through decades in schools: joy and academic rigor are not mutually exclusive. They rely on each other. When students feel that glow of achievement after mastering something challenging – solving a math problem that initially didn’t make sense, seeing positive feedback on an essay they wondered how to start, or getting on the field after weeks of practice – it motivates them to keep trying and be open to new experiences.
Excellence runs deeper than achievements. It is found in students’ willingness to challenge themselves, in their curiosity, and in their drive to understand more deeply. A rigorous education is one where learning lasts a lifetime, not just long enough to get through the test. It’s about building skills that equip students to do things they couldn’t do previously and acquiring knowledge that changes how they see and engage with the world. We honor achievement while keeping our focus on the bigger picture of developing students who will make meaningful contributions to society. This approach serves our students well across all areas, from academics to athletics, where we recently received an honorable mention among California’s top sports schools, and in the arts, where our students express creativity through musical theater productions, visual exhibitions, and performances that bring our community together.
In recent years, we have enhanced our commitment to excellence through our new mathematics, science and engineering center opening fall 2026, expanded place-based curriculum, international X-Term opportunities, and athletic tours that broaden perspectives beyond competition.
For our students to realize their full potential, we make developing a sense of belonging a core component of our work. Students thrive when they feel seen and valued within our community that includes peers from across the U.S. and more than 20 countries. By exposing them to diverse viewpoints and experiences, we help them develop empathy, compassion, and the ability to collaborate across differences.
Our motto, “Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re” (gentle in manner, resolute in deed) guides our approach. We don’t simply move students through grade levels; we honor each stage of their journey, helping them develop the tools they need to navigate and positively impact a diverse world. To learn more about our vision for the future and how these priorities will continue to shape Stevenson, I invite you to
explore our strategic vision
.
Having met alumni spanning generations, I can attest: Stevenson changes lives. Our graduates become curious explorers, creative problem-solvers, and compassionate leaders who carry forward the values that define our community.
We welcome you to join this legacy. Visit our campuses, meet our students and faculty, and experience the spirit that makes Stevenson a place where students don’t just succeed – they thrive.
Start of School Year Message to Enrolled Stevenson Families
Dr. Dan Griffiths
President
Read Dr. Griffiths’ Bio
Related Articles
Fall Semester Highlights
A Vision for Stevenson: The Why Behind Joy and Rigor
State of School Address
An independent Pre-K–12 boarding and day school located on California’s Monterey Peninsula
Carmel Campus
Grades Pre-K–8
Street address: 24800 Dolores Street, Carmel, CA 93923
Mailing address: P.O. Box AP, Carmel, CA 93921
T: 831.574.4600
Map/Directions
|
Campus Map
Request Information
Pebble Beach Campus
Grades 9–12
3152 Forest Lake Road, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Need Pebble Beach access? Contact us before visiting.
T: 831.625.8300
Map/Directions
|
Campus Map
Request Information
Copyright 2025 | Stevenson Boarding & Day School |
Policies
|
Privacy
|
Ethicspoint
|
School Directory
|
Employment
Notice of Non Discriminatory Policy:
Stevenson School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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