Rachel Stone joined Milton Academy as its new Upper School principal on July 1, following a highly competitive national search. Stone brings more than 30 years of experience working in independent schools in both faculty and leadership roles.
“Throughout her career, Rachel has demonstrated a commitment to fostering individual growth and creativity among students, faculty and staff,” said Milton Academy Head of School Alixe Callen. “She is recognized throughout the independent school community for her student-centered approach to both leadership and the educational experience. She will be a strong advocate for our students, building on Milton’s long tradition of nurturing insightful, independent learners.”
Stone comes to Milton after serving eight years as the head of school at Canterbury School—a coeducational boarding and day school in New Milford, Connecticut. While at Canterbury, she drove the advancement of the school’s academic program, growing the breadth and depth of the curriculum across multiple disciplines. She also oversaw the planning and launch of a new comprehensive strategic plan, expanding the school’s physical plant and campus in support of student education and growth.
Prior to assuming the headship at Canterbury, Ms. Stone spent 22 years at Blair Academy, an independent school in Blairstown, New Jersey, where she served in a number of roles including four years as an assistant head of school, 15 years as dean of faculty and 11 years as a science and math teacher. “Having served so long as both a teacher and dean of faculty, Rachel understands the importance of affirming and valuing the work teachers do every day,” continued Dr. Callen. “Rachel is fully committed to supporting faculty success within a student-centered environment.”
Ms. Stone is known for fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, providing important programming opportunities while working to amplify the voices of all community members. At Canterbury, she led the school’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice initiatives, including developing student leadership processes, implementing an affinity groups and spaces program, establishing interfaith initiatives, and personally teaching a seminar on systemic racism in public health.
Ms. Stone’s personal academic journey is centered in science and public health, which provides her with a unique and informed perspective on STEM topics and student mental health. She earned her B.A. in biology from Yale College, as well as a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Her master’s thesis focused on how independent schools could identify students’ key health and social challenges and use them to drive the guiding principles for creating a new health curriculum.
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