Senior School Head

Welcome to Shady Side Academy Senior School!

We are a vibrant and diverse community guided by our mission to think expansively, act ethically and lead responsibly. We offer far more than an exceptional academic program – we are a place where students embark on a transformational journey of intellectual and personal growth as thoughtful scholars, ambitious innovators and inspiring citizens of the world.

Whether in the classroom, on the field or in the theater, students at the Senior School have every opportunity to dive deeply and collaboratively into our rich and challenging programs in academics, arts and athletics. Throughout their journey, students cultivate the skills they need to think critically, face challenges fearlessly and contribute thoughtfully to the communities in which they belong. The depth of our programs and our staunch commitment to educating the whole student equip our graduates with the skills and self-awareness to successfully navigate the ever-changing world beyond high school.

At the very heart of the Shady Side Academy experience is the faculty-student relationship. We know that students thrive and grow when they feel safe and supported by a network of faculty and peers. Our students cultivate deep and lasting bonds with their teachers, who serve as advisors, coaches, and mentors, empowering them to understand who they are and what they value. Ultimately, our faculty encourage our students to explore and discover their passions and joy – a critical aspect of the Senior School experience.

We are a school that genuinely believes in cultivating the hearts and minds of students, and we believe that students who do good, are good and feel good. I am so proud to lead a school that is equally committed to offering extraordinary programs across disciplines as it is to cultivating honest, kind, respectful and responsible young people.

I invite you to visit our school to learn more about what makes our community so special.

Sincerely,

Trixie Sabundayo
Head of Senior School

Trixie Sabundayo

Trixie SabundayoTrixie Sabundayo joined Shady Side Academy as head of the Senior School in 2020. Prior to Shady Side, she served as head of the upper school at Princeton Day School, a PK-12 coed independent day school in Princeton, N.J. Previously she spent 14 years at Marin Academy, a coed day school for grades 9-12 in San Rafael, Calif, where she served as English department chair, dean of equity and inclusion, sophomore class dean, and faculty representative to the board of trustees. Earlier in her career, she taught and coached at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles and Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. A native of Maryland, she holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Johns Hopkins University and a master's degree in English from Middlebury College.