Our Head of School

I am delighted to join the Head-Royce community. What an honor it is to be part of a Bay Area institution dating back to 1887 that has continually shaped a vision for the future of education rooted in our core values of scholarship, diversity and citizenship. Originally established as a school for young women, for more than 40 years, Head-Royce has flourished as a gender-inclusive school that focuses on educating the “whole child.” In that way, we prepare our students for a future we can only begin to imagine. With a challenging academic curriculum that encourages each student’s unique needs and interests, we inspire a lifelong love of learning—both academic and in service of others—and deep connections that transcend years and careers.

In a K-12 environment, Head-Royce students have opportunities that help them grow both in academics and social-emotional skills. Our dedicated, passionate and talented educators embrace experiences that bring students of all ages together on projects, giving them a chance to learn from one another, model intellectual curiosity and embrace their similarities and differences.

Over the next year, as I get to know the students, parents, alumni, professional community and neighbors, I will simultaneously be immersed in our current strategic plan extension—the Bridge from 2022 to 2024—that guides our work in five key areas, including: teaching and learning; diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; civic engagement, balance and well-being; and financial stewardship. As the roadmap for the School, the strategic plan is purposefully aligned with our mission and intentionally centered on our students.

The magic of Head-Royce is best experienced in person. I invite your family to visit and witness our incredible learning community firsthand. We hope to see you soon!

Warmly,

Rachel E. Skiffer
Head of School

Learn More About Rachel E. Skiffer

Learn More About Rachel E. Skiffer

Appointed in 2022, Rachel Skiffer is the 12th Head of School in our 135-year history. A dynamic and visionary leader, Rachel has a deep background both in large traditional independent schools as well as small, innovative organizations. As an executive administrator, Rachel brings direct experience in admissions, belonging and DEI work, curricular development, competency-based assessment, financial stewardship, community building and strategic planning. Most recently, Rachel served as the Head of School at Khan Lab School in Palo Alto; prior to that she served as the Dean of Policy and Strategic Planning at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. She has also held administrative roles at San Francisco University High School and The Latin School of Chicago.

Before shifting into academia, Rachel worked at McKinsey & Company and later practiced commercial real estate law with firms in Chicago and San Francisco. She earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and J.D. from Harvard Law School.