St. Paul's School today announced that Kathleen Carroll Giles has been appointed as the school's new Rector. She will assume leadership of the school July 1, 2019, and will serve as the school's Fourteenth Rector, the first woman to hold the position.

Giles currently serves as head of school at the Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts, a position she has held since 2003. From 1990 to 2003 she worked at the Groton School in a variety of roles, including dean of academic affairs, college advisor, English teacher, and coach. Giles holds a Master's in Education degree, a Juris Doctor degree, and an undergraduate degree from Harvard University.

Giles brings long experience and appreciation for the merits of boarding school life to the role.

"St. Paul's recognizes that each young person deserves acknowledgement as an individual of unique capacity and personal promise, and works in partnership with young people and their families to develop the potential in its totality – moral and ethical as well as intellectual, social, and emotional – for the good of society and our world," said Giles. "I look forward to being a part of the wonderful St. Paul'scommunity and its on-going, perpetual effort to create and sustain a healthy and stimulating environment in which superb teaching, learning, and growing can thrive."

The search committee has worked since January to identify its next Rector and sought recommendations of alumni, parents, students, faculty, and staff to inform its decision.

"I am beyond thrilled that Kathy Giles will be joining the St. Paul's community," said St.Paul's board member and search committee co-chair Janice Lee. "In searching for a new Rector, the school identified several key characteristics for a new rector. Important among them were someone who will serve as an effective steward of the school, an education leader who honors our past and embraces innovation, and a sophisticated, strategic thinker. Kathy meets all of these criteria and more. Her empathetic, intelligent leadership and valuable experience and perspective will be enormously important as St. Paul's looks to its future."

"It was the unanimous view of the board that Kathy Giles is exactly the leader St. Paul's needs at this key moment in our history as we continue to move the school forward," said Archibald Cox, Jr., president of the board of trustees. "Kathy has the skills and experience to continue developing our educational model, with a focus on building an inclusive, strong living and learning community for everyone. I and the entire board could not be more pleased that she has decided to join us."

The school recently announced that Amy Richards will serve as interim rector for the school, providing an important bridge in leadership until Giles arrives next year.

Founded in 1856 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, St. Paul's School is a co-educational college preparatory high school in Concord, N.H. The 2,000-acre grounds are home to approximately 535 young men and women from 39 states and 17 countries. All students and the nearly 100 full-time faculty members live on the grounds. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Letter to St. Paul's School community announcing the new Rector.