Dear St. Stephen’s Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and as Co-Chairs of the Head of School Search Committee, we are delighted to announce that the Board has voted unanimously to appoint Ms. Maria Nunes as St. Stephen’s next head of school, effective July 1, 2026.

Maria comes to St. Stephen’s School from The Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where she is currently the Upper School Division Head and has served in that role for over 6 years. During her time at Packer, she has co-led significant pedagogical and curricular work, all guided by her passionate commitment to student centered teaching. She partnered with the school leaders to establish a unified Health and Wellness department, integrating the varied members of the counseling staff and educators to provide holistic student support. Along with leading the challenging day-to-day operations of a top tier urban high school, she also manages to teach a calculus class as a way to keep herself engaged with students on day-to-day basis, as well as to model a competency-based approach to teaching with the upper school faculty.

Before joining Packer, Maria spent 5 years at The Spence School, in NYC where she taught mathematics and economics in the high school and served as the Dean of Students. As one example of her innovative approach to learning, she designed a highly praised cross-disciplinary math and history elective that used role-playing to explore the history of economic theory and its application to contemporary global issues.

Maria earned her BA in Mathematics and Economics at Yale University, and later attended Harvard Business School where she completed her Master’s in Business Administration. After several years in industry (she worked for a number of multinational corporations in marketing, communications, operations, and financial management), she enrolled at the Bank Street College of Education in Manhattan and achieved her Master’s of Science in Childhood General Education.

When Maria formally moves to Rome next summer, she will be returning to a city where she spent time professionally in her early career. In addition, Maria has lived and/or worked in São Paolo, Brazil; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Shenzhen, China. Maria speaks English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish, and she’s looking forward to adding Italian fluency to her list of languages very soon.

Colleagues describe her as collaborative, brilliant, remarkable, and as a thoughtful listener possessing a “most formidable work ethic”. Faculty are said to respect and trust her. Students are said to “know her” and feel listened to and supported by Maria in her leadership role. She is a passionate and visionary educator, committed to academic rigor without compromising the well-being of the whole child.

Maria has our full and enthusiastic support in stepping into the role of Head of St Stephen’s School. The range and depth of experiences that she possesses, her international and cultural aptitudes, combined with her warmth and gracious approach to leadership were remarked upon by all constituents of the school community who had the opportunity to speak with her during the search process. She was chosen unanimously by the Search Committee, which included trustees and faculty, as well as by the Board of Trustees.

When Jill Muti steps away from her tenure as Head of St. Stephen’s next June, she will step away from a school that has never been stronger – a true testament to her vision, leadership, and dedication. Maria Nunes is ready to carry that momentum forward and lead St. Stephen’s into its next chapter... we couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead!

Best regards,

Libby Morris P’06, P’10 - Chair of the Board of Trustees

Rick Routhier ‘69 - Trustee

Dear St. Stephen’s Community,

I am both thrilled and deeply honored to be named the next Head of School at St. Stephen’s. From my earliest conversations with members of this community, I have been inspired by the many strengths of the school — your commitment to academic excellence, your vibrant sense of purpose, and your international-mindedness.

What has stood out most to me, however, is the warmth and collegiality that define St. Stephen’s. It is clear that students, faculty, families, and trustees alike share a profound affection for the school and a deep commitment to its mission.

As I prepare to join you on campus next July, I look forward to listening, learning, and partnering with all of you to build on St. Stephen’s remarkable foundation and to carry its values and vision confidently into the future.

Until then, I wish you a wonderful remainder of the school year. Ci vediamo presto a Roma!

Warmly,
Maria Valentina Nunes