After a year-long search, the Dunn School Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Kalyan Balaven as its next head of school.
Balaven, who is currently the director of teaching and learning at The Athenian School in Danville, California, will succeed Dunn’s retiring head of school Mike Beck at the end of the 2020-21 school year.
Balaven is well-positioned to lead Dunn School and help it build on its leadership in whole student education. During his 15 years in education, including 12 years at The Athenian School, he has held numerous teaching, administrative and leadership roles.
He has a track record of building innovative programs including the Inclusion Dashboard Consortium, a group of some 85 schools, recognized by the National Association of Independent Schools. He also serves on the California Association of Independent Schools Accreditation Board and is a liaison to the Mastery Transcript Consortium.
Balaven holds a BA in history from UC Berkeley, a JD from UC Davis School of Law, and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University.
As one of three finalist candidates who recently visited Dunn School to meet with faculty, staff, parents and students, Balaven was well-received by the Dunn School community.
“We selected Kalyan for his deep commitment to the mission of our founder Tony Dunn — educating the whole child. He will bring an engaging leadership style and a passion for learning and innovation that aligns wonderfully with the talents of our faculty, staff and students,” said Jay Conger Dunn Board chairman.
“I became an educator to help prepare students to do good in the world, and I’m overjoyed in carrying on this work in service to the mission at Dunn, where the journey of a student is as valued as the end result and the end result is articulated as ‘responsible leadership in society,’ ” Balaven said.
Balaven will move to the Dunn School campus with his family when he takes over as head of school in July 2021.
For more about Dunn School, visit www.dunnschool.org.