ENDURING LEGACY Dr David Vanderpoel

This school year was Dr. David Vanderpoel’s last year as our Head of School. With heavy yet grateful hearts, the time has come for us to say “goodbye” to this beloved man and thank him for all that he has done for the Trinity community in his almost 20 years as Head of School.

Dr. Vanderpoel and his wife Cyndi came to Trinity over 25 years ago. He came as a father to three Trinity students and a teacher to many. Former students think of his class fondly, commenting on the profound impact his teaching would have on their lives moving forward. Trinity alumna Mrs. Kirsten (Rodgers) Mount ‘06 reflected on her time as his student.

Head of School 18 years ago. In that time, he enabled our facilities to expand dramatically with the construction of Building 2, Gryphon Hill, and two full-size turf fields on campus. He also helped establish the LAIR (Learning Assistance and Institutional Resources) and spearheaded the effort for Trinity to receive recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School. Our student body, too, has grown tremendously, nearly doubling in size since he took office. Dr. Vanderpoel has even blessed us in ways that have yet to come to fruition. Under his headship, Trinity purchased the Shirley Gate property in 2018, paving the way for our expansion long after he leaves us.

Former trustee, faculty member, and parent Mr. Arne Christenson reflected on Dr. Vanderpoel’s enduring legacy.

“I look back on the 18 years of service, on the impact he’s had on this school, on the many families that have come here, on the students that have graduated from here and are going out to have a huge impact on the world,” he said. “I can hardly imagine a greater legacy.”

“Coming into his class as a freshman, I was shy, I was selfconscious, I was very socially awkward, but something about his class filled me with confidence and a love for learning,” she said. “He had a way of treating us not as who we were at the time, but who he saw us becoming.”

Trinity alumna Mrs. Emma (Bayer) Watkins ‘08 also reflected a similar sentiment, saying, “He taught us not only about ancient history, but how to think, and that’s something I carried with me through high school and then into college and even as an adult.”

After a few years of teaching, Dr. Vanderpoel went on to become a dean, a board member, and ultimately, our

Aside from the many ways he has blessed the Trinity community through his wisdom and leadership, he has also blessed us with joy and laughter. When people think of Dr. Vanderpoel, they often think of his quick wit and hearty sense of humor, never at the expense of others. It seems as though everyone who knows him has a story of a time when he brightened their day with laughter.

In his classes, he always left room for fun, having students reenact famous historical battles on the field using nerf guns or playing pranks on other classes. He would often begin his days cheering people up in carpool by wearing silly hats, stopping to greet them, or even offering some of his famous dance moves as he directed cars into the lot. Even in devotions before leading the faculty and staff in prayer, he would often enjoy a moment of levity, heeding the proverb, “A joyful heart is good medicine,” (Proverbs 17:22). (Scan the QR code to get a glimpse of Dr. Vanderpoel's humor!)

Trinity alumna Miss Karlyn Chen ’15 reflected on a moment that exemplified this quality perfectly.

“I remember one time during lunch, they were releasing the pressure from one of the fire hydrants,” she explained. “There was water everywhere, and for some reason we took our shoes off, me, Dr. Vanderpoel, and another friend, and we just went stomping around in the puddles. I was late to class after that, and he said ‘Just tell them you had an appointment with Dr. Vanderpoel!’”

Even more precious to the community than Dr. Vanderpoel’s humor was his genuine Christ-likeness, particularly in the way that he supported and encouraged others, especially when they needed it most. There are countless stories of Dr. Vanderpoel helping parents get their young children to come to school on a difficult day, holding umbrellas and doors for people, and praying over those experiencing pain or loss.

Executive Assistant to the Head of School Mrs. Kate Copeland recalled how he supported her only days after she’d been hired in 2014. Her youngest, who was five years old at the time, underwent a significant medical challenge that called her away from work to New England where her daughter would have multiple surgeries. She knew that she had to call Dr. Vanderpoel to resign from her new position but was shocked by his reaction.

“He didn’t even let me finish the sentence before he said ‘Absolutely not. You’re a part of our family now. You’re a part of Trinity’s family’,” she said. “I couldn’t believe this group of people, this community, this man was so willing to accept me and my family situation without even really knowing us. I learned that he had led the faculty in prayer for my youngest, and I was overwhelmingly touched by the way that the Trinity community, led by Dr. Vanderpoel, had come around our family in a time of crisis.”

In similar experiences, Trinity parent Mrs. Chimene Dupler remembered how Dr. Vanderpoel had been there for her family when they went through a difficult time, while former staff member and parent Mrs. Kris Colston recalled the Vanderpoels showing up on her doorstep to hug her and pray for her as soon as they had heard about her cancer diagnosis.

Indeed, this is what we will remember and cherish most about the Vanderpoels’ time at Trinity: the way they touched the lives around them with the love of Christ, ultimately pointing us all to the gospel.

“He’s really just an incredible man who leads this community like a family,” Mrs. Copeland said. “And the wonderful thing about being a part of a family is that you don’t have to say goodbye. You just have to say, ‘We’ll see you later’.”