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Head of School Transition

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May 27, 2026

We are pleased to announce that Lexi Keeler will serve as the Interim Head of School for the 2026-2027 school year. Read the letter from SGS Board Chair, Tonya Peck, announcing Lexi's appointment below, followed by Lexi's own message to the SGS community. 

  

List of 2 items.

  • Interim Head of School Announcement

    Dear SGS Community,
     
    We are thrilled to share that Lexi Keeler has accepted the role of Interim Head of School for the 2026–2027 school year!
     
    Following a thoughtful and thorough process that included both internal and external candidates, the Board is confident that Lexi is the right leader for this moment. Her eight years of dedicated service to SGS, including significant fundraising leadership and stewardship of key fiduciary responsibilities, have prepared her exceptionally well to guide the school through this transition.
     
    Lexi will provide the stability, continuity, and care our community deserves as we conduct the search for our next permanent Head of School.
     
    She will be working closely with Seattle Girls’ School’s leadership team: Phelana Pang, Associate Head of School, Miryam Harvey, Dean of Student Life and Diana Algomeda, Director of Enrollment Management. We are deeply grateful for their continued leadership. Together, this team brings strong, trusted partnership and long‑standing relationships with our students, staffulty, board, and the wider community, ensuring that SGS remains steady, student‑centered, and future‑focused.
     
    In the fall, the Board of Trustees will launch a comprehensive search for SGS’s next head of school, who will start in the summer of 2027. More information to come. 
     
    We look forward to the year ahead with confidence and appreciation.

    Warmly,
    Tonya Peck
    SGS Board Chair

  • Message from Incoming Interim Head of School

    Dear SGS Community,
     
    From my first tour of our old campus eight years ago, I was blown away by SGS students’ confidence, camaraderie and clear sense of fun–could this really be a middle school?! Now, as a parent, I have gotten to watch my daughter experience all of those things and more. I care deeply for this school, our mission, and our students.
     
    So, I am humbled and honored to step into the role of Interim Head of School for the 2026-27 school year, to provide stability and care during this period of transition.
     
    It feels increasingly rare to be part of a community that celebrates curiosity, knows mistakes are part of learning, and honors both individuality and collaboration as essential to authentic leadership. Certainly, during my time at SGS, working alongside our amazing staff, faculty, families, supporters, alums and students–in other words, all of you–I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to grow as a leader, in ways that are true to me.
     
    I’m excited to continue to partner with and serve this community over the next school year, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary and prepare to usher in the next 25 years at SGS. Please reach out with any questions, comments, concerns and celebrations! 
    In partnership,
     
    Lexi Keeler
    Incoming Interim Head of School
April 19, 2026

Below is the initial announcement from our departing Head of School, Brenda Leaks and a message from SGS Board Chair, Tonya Peck.  


  

List of 2 items.

  • Brenda's Departure Announcement

    Dear SGS Community,
     
    After 10 years of leadership, love, and so much laughter, I have decided to leave SGS at the end of this school year to pursue another opportunity. The SGS mission is to inspire and develop courageous leaders who think independently, work collaboratively, learn joyfully, and champion change. I have been so fortunate to lead SGS for the last decade as we worked to make this mission real for all of our students. Though my leadership of SGS will end this June, that mission and the amazing community that makes it real will live in my heart for the rest of my life because it shaped me as much, if not more, than I shaped it. 
     
    I am so grateful for the SGS students who inspired me to be my best self each day, the talented faculty and staff who challenged me to live the mission when it was easy AND when it was hard, the families who walked in partnership with me as we held our children together, the Board of Trustees who poured their passion into building the best future possible for the school, and the community of believers who showed up year in and year out to give their time, talent, treasure, and trust in support of our powerful student leaders.
     
    A former SGS music teacher once said, “It’s hard to leave. Not because I’m unsure, but because I know what I’m leaving behind.” I knew as soon as the words were spoken that they would capture how I felt when my moment came to say goodbye. SGS is truly a special place that will continue to be led not just by the future Head of School, but by all of the committed faculty and staff, trustees and volunteers who have been and will continue to pour into our kids. 
     
    Over the coming months, I hope to be able to share my gratitude with each of you personally for all you give to Seattle Girls’ School. If we don’t have that one-on-one moment, please hear me now: Thank you. Your care for SGS matters. Your support for my leadership was important. And, the work is not done, so thank you for showing up for the next Head of School and the next generation of SGS students.
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Brenda

  • Message from Tonya Peck

    Dear SGS Community,
     
    As board chair of Seattle Girls’ School, I am writing today with both pride and heartfelt appreciation as we share important news. Our beloved Brenda Leaks has accepted an exciting new opportunity and will be departing at the end of this school year. While transitions of this kind are never easy, we are deeply grateful for the vision, dedication, and warmth Brenda brought to our school every day for 10 years, including leading us through multiple capital campaigns and the creation of our school’s permanent home!  Brenda’s impact will be felt for years to come.
     
    The SGS Board wants to assure you that our focus is firmly on stability, continuity, the continued strength of our mission, and the powerful education we provide for our student leaders.We have already begun the process of securing an Interim Head of School who will guide our amazing SGS leadership team, faculty and staff through this next chapter with steadiness and care. We look forward to sharing more updates with you very soon.
     
    In the meantime, please join me in congratulating Brenda on her next adventure. We are immensely proud of all she has accomplished here and grateful for the heart and soul she has poured into the SGS community. Brenda has asked that the SGS Annual Luncheon on May 7th be her opportunity to say farewell to the SGS community. We hope that everyone comes out to say thank you and wish her success in her next endeavor.
     
    Thank you for your trust, partnership, and commitment to our students. Together, we will navigate this transition with confidence and continue to build a school where every student is known, supported, and inspired. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
     
    With gratitude,
    Tonya Peck 
    SGS Board Chair

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Seattle Girls' School

Located in the Central District, Seattle Girls' School is an independent school for girls and gender expansive students in grades 5-8. Our mission is to inspire and develop courageous leaders who think independently, work collaboratively, learn joyfully, and champion change.

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