Kate McGroarty joins Rabun Gap as Head of Upper School

Kathryn McGroarty has joined the Rabun Gap community as our new Head of Upper School. She is an esteemed educator and leader renowned for her expertise in mission-based leadership, strategic planning, and curriculum development.

Ms. McGroarty brings over two decades of experience in boarding and independent school education to Rabun Gap, most recently leading as Upper School Division Head at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child. She served 14 years at The Madeira School in a variety of academic leadership roles including Director of Educational Innovation, Assistant Academic Dean, and Assistant Director of Global Programs. Before her career at Madeira, Ms. McGroarty taught French and modern languages at an international school in Germany and schools in Charlotte, NC.

A native of Canada, Ms. McGrarty holds a certificate of advanced education leadership from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. She earned an education specialist degree in leadership and administration from George Washington University, a master's degree in French as a Second Language from Universite de Provence in France, and a post-graduate certificate in modern languages from University of Cambridge in England. She graduated from Queen’s University in Canada with a Bachelor of Arts in Language & Linguistics. 

She has shared her insights on innovative educational practices through various presentations and publications, further cementing her reputation as a thought leader in the field. We are honored to have Ms. McGroarty as a part of our community, and we look forward to her continued impact on shaping the future of education. She will live on campus and serve in the dorms.