Liz and Wally Caddow

Liz Caddow founded Trinity Classical Academy in 2001 in Santa Clarita, CA with her husband, Wally Caddow. Today Trinity is in its 23rd year with 560 students in grades TK – 12th and has graduated 13 classes totaling over 400 students who have attended some of the finest universities and colleges in the United States.

Liz taught public junior high for 8 years. Her experiences there began to strengthen a resolve that starting a new school was what God had planned for her. But what kind of school was worthwhile to start? Hearing the founder of the Logos School, Douglas Wilson, on James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” radio program one morning gave her the answer. After months of research, reading, and consideration, Liz and Wally presented a survey to their local church congregation to gauge interest in beginning a classical, Christian school. A dozen families expressed interest and the dream of Trinity Classical Academy began a journey to reality.

Trinity has also pioneered the inclusion of special education into the classical school setting by opening the Imago Dei School (Latin for the Image of God) to serve students with developmental disabilities. The only classical school in the country to do so, and one of the few Christian schools to address this underserved population.Trinity now also serves 160 plus students in the independent learning community through Trinity’s Libertas Preparatory School.

Liz and Wally make their home in Santa Clarita, CA. Their son, Ian, attended the United States Naval Academy and now serves as a 1st Lieutenant Logistics officer in the United States Marine Corps, married a Trinity Alumn, and the Caddows were excited to celebrate their first grandchild this past fall. Their daughter, Hannah, graduated from Life-Pacific University this past spring with a Masters in Leadership Development. Their youngest daughter, Lily, just completed her Freshman year at Wheaton College, where she also plays on the Wheaton Thunder women’s basketball team.

2024 Speaker Topic

We Started a School and Surprise—
It Worked!

Twenty-five years ago, we were a young couple wondering what kind of schooling we wanted for our little son. Liz was working as a teacher in public education and it convinced us that we wanted something more for our children’s schooling. After much prayer and research, we decided to start a school – and it worked.

This session will illuminate what it takes to start a school and shepherd it to maturation and success, and doing it all as husband and wife raising three kids in the process. We hope our story will inspire others to continue the journey.