Welcome Rachael Beare

Tabor Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachael Beare as Associate Head of School for External Affairs beginning July 1, 2022. Beare brings more than 30 years of experience in admissions and marketing in independent schools across the US, including Phillips Exeter Academy, Lakeside School, The Hotchkiss School, and her alma mater, Loomis Chaffee School. She was also a founding member of the administrative team at Keystone Academy in Beijing, China.

“We are excited to have Rachael join our team,” says Tony Jaccaci, Head of School at Tabor. “She has worked at excellent schools here in the United States and abroad, and this breadth of experience has given her a deep understanding of how to build strength in a school’s operations and external affairs. Moreover, Rachael is an educator at heart and really enjoys being with students and learning about their interests and individual passions and dreams. I was so impressed with her ability to tell the story of the schools she has served and know she will be a wonderful storyteller at Tabor. Finally, Rachael is a fantastic combination of consummate professional and warm and caring individual. I am delighted to be working with Rachael and know she will help us all become a better community, both on campus and beyond, in Seawolf nation.” 

Founded in 1876, Tabor is a premier coeducational boarding school that serves more than 530 students from across the country and around the world. As the School by the Sea, Tabor offers an uncommonly beautiful setting in which to learn for students in grades 9-12. The school provides a wide breadth of academic offerings for students to explore their interests, understand their strengths, and develop their critical thinking and communication skills.  

Beare was drawn to this role because of its unique structure; it’s a position not commonly seen in independent schools. “I was intrigued by the potential of this position to align the work of the admission, marketing and communications, and advancement offices in ways that could benefit the institution as a whole.” Beare has served as a member of four different senior leadership teams, giving her substantial insight into the inner workings of independent schools. “This new structure at Tabor creates opportunities for meaningful collaboration while preserving the focus and integrity of the separate functions.”  

In addition to her experience at some of the top independent schools in the country, Beare served as a founding Board member for the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP), a role that showcases her dedication to make a difference in schools. 

Beare notes, “I'm excited about the opportunity to work with Tony Jaccaci.” She spent eight years as the founding Director of Admission and Institutional Research at Keystone Academy in Beijing, China. “As a result of our parallel paths starting schools in China, I know him to be a thoughtful and dedicated educator.”

Reflecting on why Tabor is the right place for her, Beare notes that she’s known of the School by the Sea for over 30 years, “since my brother attended summer camp there!” Spending time on the campus and with students more recently, however, helped her determine that this was the place for her. “I enjoyed the time I spent with some of the students during my visit. The affection the students have for the school, and especially for their teachers, is a testament to the good work happening at Tabor each day, and to the potential of good things to come.” 

Those things to come include Tabor’s 150th anniversary in 2026. “This significant milestone for the community is an opportunity to celebrate the history of the school to date, and to chart the path for the next chapter of Tabor's compelling story,” says Beare. “I'm excited to be a part of this process and to do what I can to help Tabor to pave an innovative and distinctive path for its next 150 years.”

Beare earned a bachelor’s degree in English, magna cum laude, from Amherst College and a master’s in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

The search committee for the appointment of Beare was chaired by Jeanne Townsend and included Deb Cohen, Jen Dunn, Jay Houck, Guillermo Moronta ’02, and Matt Voci. Bethany Daniels provided planning and coordination of the process. The school is greatly thankful for the hard work and professionalism of this group.