New Head of School

Dear MCDS Families and Friends,

It is my profound honor to be chosen as the next head of Marin Country Day School, to begin July 1, 2019. In its 61 year history, MCDS has grown into one of the most widely respected and vibrant schools in the Bay Area and nationally, with a clear emphasis on inspiring, challenging, and nurturing young people to be their best selves and to make a difference in this diverse and complex world. I feel incredibly humbled and privileged to be leading the school into the next chapter of its great history.

Although I had known about MCDS prior to my arrival in the Bay Area 11 years ago, I truly became a fan as I developed more and more knowledge about this wonderful school. As a Marin County resident, hearing through friends and peers about the incredible education that children receive at MCDS, and as a local head of school seeing firsthand how thoughtful the academic programs are, I knew that should an opportunity arise at MCDS, I would want to explore its potential fit for me.

It became immediately clear to me through the search process that I would jump at the opportunity to be the next head of school. My experience with everyone I’ve met in the MCDS community has strengthened my already high opinion of the school. The warmth, intelligence, commitment to diversity, focus on academic and social-emotional well-being of students, and strong values of compassion and respect rang through clearly in my conversations with everyone I met in the search process. Those meetings, coupled with my experiences through a decade of interactions with MCDS parents, students, faculty, staff, administration, and trustees, cemented the notion that this is a school that I would be very lucky to be asked to join. I am beyond thrilled that I have been extended this chance to lead such a vibrant, healthy, and joyful school.

At the end of the 2018-19 year, I will have finished 12 years as the head of Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito, CA. I am immensely proud of the journey I have had there with the support and shared leadership of an amazing team of faculty, staff, and admin, and a highly strategic board. While I cherish my experiences and the many dear friends I have made there, I also believe that change is good and I’m very excited about the opportunities in store. I want to thank all of you in advance for welcoming me and my son Henry, who shares my enthusiasm and joy for finding our new home at MCDS. I look forward to meeting all of you soon, and wish you and yours a very happy holiday season.

Warmly,

Katherine Dinh