10 Independent School Leaders Serving Austin, Texas

Jonno White
Aug 4
10 min read

Last updated: August 2026.

Austin has a remarkable mix of independent schools. Their communities are shaped by a clear sense of purpose, close relationships and the steady work of helping young people learn well. A school may have a distinctive learning approach or history, but its culture is felt in everyday moments: how a family is welcomed, how a teacher is supported, how a hard question is answered and how students are encouraged to grow. The leaders in these schools hold a broad responsibility. They care for a school’s direction while also helping staff, families and students understand what good looks like in everyday life.

The names below offer a practical starting point for anyone interested in independent-school leadership in Austin. Each person serves in a current leadership role at a school or school-related organisation with a local connection. This is not a list of all local leaders, and it does not try to make a claim about a definitive order. Instead, it is a way to notice the kinds of roles, experience and responsibility that support a healthy school community. The aim is simple: notice leadership choices that help people feel clear, trusted and able to contribute.

Independent education can look different from school to school. Some communities are faith-based, some follow a particular educational philosophy and some serve a wide range of ages across more than one campus. Yet strong leadership work often shares a few qualities. It names the purpose, makes room for honest conversations, gives people useful support and keeps bringing attention back to the students who are being served. That work takes patience. It also asks leaders to make values visible in the decisions people need to make each day.

Why independent school leadership matters

Schools are communities before they are systems. A good leader helps people understand the mission in plain words, then creates the habits that let that mission show up in classrooms, meetings and family conversations. That work is practical rather than motivational: something people can use on Monday morning, not a feeling that fades by Friday.

Austin’s independent schools also sit within a fast-moving city. Leaders are balancing a distinctive school culture with the needs of families, talented staff and young people growing up in a changing world. The examples here point to the value of steadiness, clarity and real connection.

1. Dan Peterson

Head of School, Regents School of Austin

Dan Peterson serves as Head of School at Regents School of Austin, an independent-school community serving Austin. Regents says Peterson has served as Head of School since 2018 and serves on boards connected with classical Christian education and school leadership. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

For school teams elsewhere, this is a useful reminder that leadership becomes practical when people can link a school’s purpose to clear priorities, dependable communication and everyday habits. The aim is not to copy another school’s approach. It is to notice how leaders can help people understand the work, make sound decisions and keep attention on the students and families they serve. This discipline rewards patient follow-through, useful feedback and a willingness to make the next step plain for everyone.

2. Melissa Grubb

Head of School, St. Andrew's Episcopal School

Melissa Grubb serves as Head of School at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, an independent-school community serving Austin. St. Andrew’s identifies Grubb as Head of School and says the role follows more than 30 years in independent-school education. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

3. Christopher L. Gunnin

Head of School, St. Stephen's Episcopal School

Christopher L. Gunnin serves as Head of School at St. Stephen's Episcopal School, an independent-school community serving Austin. The Independent Schools Association of the Southwest lists Gunnin as Head of School and as a current association leader. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

4. Jennifer Morgan

Head of School, Trinity Episcopal School

Jennifer Morgan serves as Head of School at Trinity Episcopal School, an independent-school community serving Austin. Trinity says Morgan became Head of School in 2020 after first joining the school in 2000 as its first kindergarten teacher. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

5. Shanna Prewitt-Hines

Head of Lower School, Trinity Episcopal School

Shanna Prewitt-Hines serves as Head of Lower School at Trinity Episcopal School, an independent-school community serving Austin. Trinity says Prewitt-Hines has led its lower school since 2020 and brings more than 20 years of independent-school experience. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

6. Dr Michelle Purghart

Head of School, Austin Waldorf School

Dr Michelle Purghart serves as Head of School at Austin Waldorf School, an independent-school community serving Austin. Austin Waldorf identifies Purghart as Head of School. Its leadership announcement notes a doctorate in educational leadership. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

7. Dr Christopher Coy

Head of School, Hyde Park Schools

Dr Christopher Coy serves as Head of School at Hyde Park Schools, an independent-school community serving Austin. Hyde Park Schools identifies Coy as Head of School and says the role follows nearly two decades of service at the school, including as Upper School Principal. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

8. Laura Steinbach, M.S.Ed

Head of School and Executive Director, Rawson Saunders Institute

Laura Steinbach, M.S.Ed serves as Head of School and Executive Director at Rawson Saunders Institute, an independent-school community serving Austin. Rawson Saunders identifies Steinbach as both Head of School and Executive Director of its institute, bringing the school and specialist learning work together. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

9. Ted Graf

Head of School, Headwaters School

Ted Graf serves as Head of School at Headwaters School, an independent-school community serving Austin. Headwaters identifies Graf as Head of School. The school’s City as Classroom program shows how its Austin setting is used as part of student learning. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

10. Grae Baker

Head of School, Austin Montessori School

Grae Baker serves as Head of School at Austin Montessori School, an independent-school community serving Austin. Austin Montessori identifies Baker as Head of School and notes an AMI Elementary diploma and a Master of Education focused on Montessori education. The role sits within an Austin school community where a leader needs to hold a long-term direction while also caring for the daily details that affect students, staff and families. That combination links the bigger picture to care for people across the school community in practice.

What these leaders show us about independent school leadership

Leadership becomes easier to follow when people can see how a school’s purpose affects real choices. That might mean a clear learning approach, a thoughtful transition for a new student or a regular way for staff to raise an issue before it grows. The point is not to copy another school. It is to ask what would help your own people understand the work and play their part well.

A useful question for any school leader is: have we said what good looks like, and have we made it easy for people to act on it? When the answer is yes, culture becomes less about a slogan and more about everyday behaviour.

How to use this list

Read the names with your own school context in mind. Notice the way each role connects a person, a school and a local community. Then choose one small leadership habit you can make clearer this week, such as explaining a decision, recognising good work or asking a team what would make the next step easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this list for?

This article is for school leaders, governors, staff, families and anyone who wants to understand the independent-school community in Austin. It is also useful for people looking for practical examples of leadership roles within different kinds of school settings.

Are these all the independent school leaders in Austin?

No. Austin has many independent-school leaders and leadership teams. This is a focused starting point built around current public school information, so it should be read as a helpful introduction rather than a complete directory.

What can a school team learn from a leader outside its own school?

A different school can help a team see its own habits more clearly. The useful question is not whether another school has the same approach, but which leadership practice could be adapted with care for your own people and purpose.

How can I strengthen leadership in my school?

Start with one real conversation. Ask your team where expectations are unclear, then choose a small change that makes good work easier to see and repeat. Consistent, practical follow-through matters more than a large new program.

Conclusion

Independent-school leadership is demanding work, and it matters deeply. The leaders above show different ways of serving Austin school communities while keeping people, learning and purpose in view. A strong next move is simply to make one expectation clearer for the people who rely on you.

About Jonno White

Jonno White is the founder of Consult Clarity. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. His work is practical rather than motivational: something people can use on Monday morning, not a feeling that fades by Friday.

If you would like practical help to build a stronger leadership culture in your school, email Jonno at jonno@consultclarity.org.

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