As Jesuit High School Sacramento prepares for its next chapter, Joey Elftmann ’00 will play a key role in shaping the student experience as dean of students for the boys division. A Jesuit alumnus, educator, mentor and championship coach, Elftmann brings both a deep understanding of the school’s mission and a steady, relational approach to student life.

“Jesuit has always been home for me,” Elftmann said. “It shaped who I am, not just academically, but in how I approach relationships, leadership and service. Stepping into this role is really about giving back to a place that formed me.”

That sense of connection is personal. As a student, educator and now leader, Elftmann has experienced Jesuit from multiple perspectives, each shaping how he approaches his work with students today. He understands not only the expectations of the school, but the day-to-day realities of being a student navigating growth, challenge and identity.

Currently serving as associate dean of students, Elftmann has spent years building trust with students while helping cultivate a campus environment grounded in both accountability and care. For him, the work of a dean begins long before a conversation about discipline.

“Every interaction is an opportunity to guide and mentor,” he said. “Discipline is really about growth, helping young people understand who they are and who they’re becoming.”

That philosophy has also been shaped by his experience beyond Jesuit, including his time at Convent & Stuart Hall in San Francisco, an independent K-12 school with its own distinctive single-sex classroom model within a coeducational campus. That perspective informs his approach as Jesuit prepares to implement its co-divisional structure, offering insight into how strong identity and intentional support can exist alongside a broader, shared campus community.

In addition to his work in the Dean’s Office, Elftmann serves as head coach of Jesuit’s nationally ranked varsity volleyball program. Under his leadership, the Marauders have become one of the premier programs in the state and the country, known not only for their success on the court but for the culture they build together.

The connection between coaching and campus leadership is not lost on him. Both roles, he says, are rooted in relationship.

“If we build trust, everything else follows,” Elftmann said. “Every student deserves to be known, supported and challenged to be his best self.”

Colleagues note the same consistency in how he shows up for students each day: present, attentive, and willing to meet students where they are. It is a leadership style grounded not in authority alone, but in accompaniment.

As Jesuit moves forward, Elftmann brings a perspective shaped by experience, relationships, and a deep belief in the school’s mission. In his new role, he will help ensure that the formation students receive, academically, personally, and spiritually, remains at the center of daily life on campus.

And for Elftmann, that work is both professional and personal. It is the continuation of a mission that first took root during his own years as a Marauder, and one he now helps carry forward for the next generation.

 “Stepping into this role is really about giving back to a place that formed me.” 

—Joey Elftmann ‘00