Head of School
Who We Are
Dr. James Jordan
James is an eighteen-year veteran of independent school education and comes to us from St. John’s Episcopal School in Rancho Margarita, California. He served as Middle Division Principal and Associate Head of School for Innovation for the PK through Grade 8 school.
James grew up in the north of England, viewed himself as an athlete only, and left school early to pursue a professional soccer career. A severe injury forced him to reconsider his chosen career. Unexpectedly he was offered a scholarship to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, which he accepted. Realizing the dramatic culture change, he majored in African American Studies and American History. Upon graduation, James served for nine years as a history and economics teacher and soccer coach at Stratford Academy. He moved to the Kinkaid School in Houston Texas for three years as Middle School Assistant Head where he coordinated the department chairs’ work and instituted a weekly communication to parents, faculty, and students.
From there he moved to St. John’s as Middle Division Principal and Associate Head for Innovation. His duties included aligning the school’s programming and resources to a STEAM approach to teaching and learning, increasing enrollment, and creating opportunities for feedback. He spearheaded their recent capital campaign, which transformed the learning spaces on campus. Along the way, James earned his Master’s and Doctoral degrees at the George Washington University.
James loves to learn, travel, and explore Nashville’s amazing restaurant scene. He and his rescue cat, Biggles, continue to be avid soccer fans.
Education Philosophy
“I firmly believe that the purpose of education is to empower people to take control of their own destiny and to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Each of us has something meaningful to contribute to society, and it is a school leader’s responsibility to create or sustain environments in which people believe in themselves and the mission.”
“In this age of personalization, the demands for a ‘custom experience’ are growing, but the need for inclusive, just environments is even greater. As such, I work hard to lead my colleagues in nurturing happy, healthy, and successful students, knowing that ‘success’ looks different for each individual.”
