As of July 1, Dr. Matthew Troutman became the fifth head of Thomas Jefferson School, a private day and boarding school at 4100 S. Lindbergh Blvd. in Sunset Hills. Dr. Elizabeth Holekamp retired after nine years of service as head of school.
Troutman is already a well-established member of the Thomas Jefferson community, serving on the faculty since 2011. His accomplishments are many and in true TJ fashion represent a wide range of experiences and interests, the school said. Matt earned a Bachelor of Science in physics from Roanoke College, a Master of Science and doctorate in physics from Clemson University and Masters in Education from the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University.
At Thomas Jefferson, Troutman has served as director of teaching and learning, associate director of academics, chair of the mathematics department and assistant college counselor. He also serves on the school’s Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Social Justice; the Admissions and Enrollment Committee, the Student Travel Committee and has represented TJ for the Independent Schools of St. Louis.
Troutman founded the TJ Robotics Team and coached varsity girls soccer and junior varsity boys soccer. In the domain of school governance, Troutman served on the Advancement and Strategic Planning Committees of the Board of Trustees and chaired the steering committee and self-study for TJ’s 2018 Independent Schools Association of the Central States reaccreditation.
Outside of TJ he has served as an astronomy instructor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and as an instructor for the Gifted Resource Council of St. Louis. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and has presented his work at professional conferences, and even for a short time worked at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama.
Troutman and his wife, Ashley, live in Sunset Hills.
