Alexandra (Alixe) H. Callen ’88 has been selected by the Board of Trustees to be Milton Academy’s 13th head of school, effective July 1, 2023.

Dr. Callen, a Milton graduate with extensive teaching and leadership experience in both public and independent schools, served as the head of St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island, a position she held since 2017.

During her time at St. George’s, Callen and her team undertook a full-scale effort to review and renew the school’s curriculum to support interdisciplinary and connected learning, prioritizing strong academics and reflecting the latest research in education. In collaboration with the school’s most veteran faculty, Callen formed the Senior Teaching Cadre and has energized pedagogical and professional development through dedicated programs for teaching and learning. She led the development of St. George’s current strategic plan, campus master plan, and the school’s first diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plan. Her team also launched the Beloved Community Initiative, a program focused on the history of St. George’s and the experiences of students across diverse identities. Over the past five years, she has also collaborated with the school’s advancement office to raise more than $20 million to support new capital projects, including two new turf fields and the restoration of the Memorial Schoolhouse. She has overseen all aspects of the school’s operation, including academics, student life, equity and inclusion, finance, advancement, admission, college counseling, and athletics.

Milton Trustees unanimously supported the recommendation by the Head of School Search Committee to hire Callen, following a rigorous search that considered several highly qualified school leaders. Callen’s experience and ability to look into the future and navigate changes in pedagogy and education—along with her focus on student-centered curriculum development, collaborative approach to leadership, and enthusiasm for building community—were among the many positive attributes noted during the selection process. The Search Committee and Milton’s Trustees were additionally impressed with Callen’s motivation to champion Milton’s intentional, deeply held commitment to building a diverse and inclusive community that fosters an understanding of injustice and a common goal of fair, equitable practices for all.

“During our conversations with Dr. Callen, it was clear that building community and fostering positive cultural change are hallmarks of her leadership. Her natural curiosity and impressive listening skills help her craft highly intentional and extremely thoughtful tactics to support meaningful progress. She speaks eloquently and in detail about the pursuit of excellence in teaching and, more broadly, she is deeply immersed in current thinking about educational practices and the future of education. With her sound judgment and inclusive style, Alixe’s enthusiasm for delivering a stellar environment for student learning will permeate all aspects of education and school life, and will help her excel as the next leader of Milton Academy.”
– Claire Hughes Johnson ’90, P’24 ’27; Chair, Head of School Search Committee; President, Milton Academy Board of Trustees

Callen received her bachelor’s degree in American civilization from Brown University, a master of arts in teaching degree from Brown, a master’s degree in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University, and her doctorate from Harvard, where she was elected to the Harvard Educational Review. Prior to St. George’s, Callen was the upper school director at Lakeside School in Seattle, the principal of Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in Acton, Massachusetts—a 2,000-student public school consistently rated among the best in the state—and assistant principal of Needham High School in Needham, Massachusetts. She has also held leadership, teaching, and research positions through the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School in Devens, Massachusetts, the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District in Sedona, Arizona, and the Coalition of Essential Schools. She and her husband, James Bailey, have two sons, Zander and Miles.

Learn about the search for Milton’s 13th head of school.