Our New Head of School at MICDS
J. Michelle “Chelle” Wabrek will succeed Jay Rainey as the next Head of School at MICDS, effective July 1, 2026.
Letter from the Chair of the MICDS Board of Trustees on October 10, 2025
Dear MICDS Community,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am delighted to announce that J. Michelle “Chelle” Wabrek has been appointed as the next Head of School at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School. Chelle will officially begin her tenure on July 1, 2026, succeeding our current Head, Jay Rainey, whose service to MICDS has been both impactful and deeply appreciated.
Chelle’s appointment is the result of a comprehensive national search conducted by Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A). CS&A hosted hours of open house listening sessions on campus and online, and supplemented this work with nearly 600 survey responses from our community. Your many contributions informed the entire search process and enabled us to focus our efforts on finding a leader who will honor our traditions, champion our values, and guide MICDS into a promising future. While the search drew a truly outstanding pool of candidates from across the country, each with an impressive background and a passion for independent school education, Chelle emerged as the clear and compelling choice to lead MICDS into its next chapter.
Chelle currently serves as Associate Head of School at The Lovett School in Atlanta, where she leads more than 300 employees, is responsible for daily operations, and stewards a significant academic budget. She has also guided strategic planning, professional development, and enrollment strategy with vision and effectiveness. Her earlier leadership roles at The Episcopal School of Dallas and Louisville Collegiate School showcased her creativity, commitment to faculty growth, and passion for student-centered learning. Beyond her school-based leadership, Chelle recently served as chair of the board of Leadership + Design, a national organization that brings together innovative educators to reimagine the future of schooling.
Throughout the search process, representatives of our community responded to Chelle’s warmth, intellect, and presence with enthusiasm. As one interviewer noted, “Chelle is both visionary and approachable. She makes you feel heard while challenging the community to think boldly about the future.” Another community member shared, “Her leadership style combines intellectual rigor with genuine care for students, faculty, and families. She will be a transformational leader for MICDS.”
Chelle earned a master’s degree from the George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development and a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University. She and her husband, Chad, enjoy visiting with their three sons—Asher (28), Auden (25), and Trillin (23). In her free time, she loves cooking for family and friends, a passion deeply connected to her family’s ties to New Orleans, where they gather regularly. Chelle and Chad are looking forward to exploring St. Louis’ culinary scene and cultural offerings.
I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Andy Condie ’82, Chair of the Search Committee, for his extraordinary leadership throughout this process. I am also profoundly grateful to the Search Committee: Charmaine Ansari, Lisa Dennig Coulter ’75, Jen Hogan, McKay Baur Mills ’92, Daphné Morgan, Terry Pflager III ’80, Dave Steward II ’95, and Brad Werner ’86. They gave generously of their time and wisdom on behalf of our School, and their dedication ensured that the process was inclusive, thorough, and true to the values we hold dear at MICDS.
I also want to thank the members of our Advisory Committee, which was chaired by John Sedgwick ‘05 and included alumni, parents, alumni parents, and faculty: Beau Brauer ’95, Khannie Dastgah, Carla Federman, Lauren Fries ’02, Heidi Gorham, Andrew Grumney ’05, Jasmine Harper, Bob Hermann ’70, Debbie Hill, Jessica Lloyd ’91, Chris Rappleye, Greg Stevens, John Stupp ’68, Peter Swank ’01, Sarah Thompson ’96, Meghan Trilling, and Paul Zahller. Their guidance and insights were invaluable.
Finally, I’d like to recognize the countless members of the MICDS community—students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni—who participated in CS&A’s listening sessions and surveys during this process. Your thoughtful reflections on our community’s values were always at the forefront of the search process.
It’s clear that the people of MICDS are what make our beloved school so special. Chelle shared that while she is inspired by the School and its mission, the people she met through her interview process served as the strongest evidence of MICDS’ deeply held values and enduring success. “The MICDS mission captures what I believe great schools should do: develop students’ academic, social, and emotional intelligence while preparing them to lead courageously and contribute meaningfully to the greater good,” she said. “As a mother of three sons, all now adults, I understand the sacred trust families place in schools. That partnership requires open communication, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to developing not just accomplished students, but good people. Character matters as much as intellect—how students treat others, how they handle challenges, whether they stand up for what’s right. Schools have a responsibility to help young people discover who they are and who they want to become, both as scholars and as human beings.”
Chelle and Chad look forward to making St. Louis their home and becoming active members of our community. She said, “My husband and I are thrilled to call St. Louis home. We’ve already fallen in love with this city’s warmth, cultural richness, and civic pride. I’m committed to investing myself fully in the MICDS community—supporting teachers who inspire deep thinking, championing students as they develop into confident thinkers and leaders, and partnering with families. I am deeply honored to join the MICDS community as your next Head of School.”
As we prepare for this leadership transition, we look forward to MICDS’s next chapter under Chelle’s leadership with excitement and confidence. We will share opportunities to meet and get to know Chelle in the coming months and invite you to extend the renowned warm MICDS welcome to the Wabrek family. In the meantime, please read the statement below from Chelle to learn more about her.
With gratitude and anticipation,
Jason Brauer ’94
Chair, Board of Trustees
Head of School Search Committee Member
Statement from Chelle Wabrek on October 10, 2025
Dear MICDS Community,
Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know this remarkable school through an incredibly thoughtful and comprehensive search process. Days of meaningful conversations with board members, the search committee, school leadership, teachers, current and past parents, and alumni, allowed me to understand not just what MICDS does, but who MICDS is. The questions I was asked were intentional and thought-provoking, designed to explore my educational philosophy, my leadership approach, and whether my values align with this community’s mission. That level of care in selecting your next leader speaks volumes about MICDS’ commitment to its future.
The formal process told me one story about MICDS. But I learned just as much from unexpected encounters—meeting alumni, parents, grandparents, and former board members who had no way of knowing I was a candidate for this role. Without fail, they would share unprompted stories about their deep love for this school. That passion, consistent across generations and completely unfiltered, confirmed what I was discovering through my campus visits.
An MICDS parent shared a story with me that captures what makes this school special. She runs an equestrian program, and one of her young riders, an MICDS student, asked if she would read an essay she’d written for school about the sound of wind while riding her horse. The coach was struck by the sophistication of the analysis—the way this student made unexpected connections and expressed complex ideas with precision and artistry. She immediately knew she wanted her child to be surrounded by educators who inspire students to think at this level. That intellectual curiosity and analytical depth are the hallmarks of genuine scholarship, and it’s the thread I saw woven through every conversation I had at MICDS.
What drew me most powerfully to MICDS is the alignment between the school’s mission and my own deep-seated beliefs about learning. Students thrive in educational communities where academic excellence and character development are inseparable. I’ve spent 30 years working in schools that prepare students not just for college, but for lives of purpose and contribution. At MICDS, I met teachers who inspire deep thinking and families who are genuinely invested partners. This combination creates an ecosystem for students to approach learning with curiosity and joy. This is a community that understands preparing young people to lead courageously means nurturing both their minds and their core values. I’m honored to join this work.
Having raised three sons, now adults, I’ve entrusted my own children to educators who had profound impact on their lives—those who shaped not just their minds but helped them discover who they wanted to become. Schools play a unique role in young people’s lives, providing daily opportunities to navigate complex social dynamics, make ethical decisions, contribute to community, and discover their own values through both challenge and support. The best schools understand that academic learning happens alongside the development of character, empathy, and integrity. They create environments where students learn what it means to live in community with others: to listen across differences, to stand up for what’s right, to take responsibility for their choices.
My husband Chad and I have already fallen in love with St. Louis—its cultural richness, its philanthropic legacy, its deep history, and most of all, its people. During our visits, everywhere we went—Sugarfire BBQ, the City Museum, searching for Cardinals gear—people eagerly shared what they love about their city and provided ideas about where we should go next. That warmth and pride is infectious. St. Louis is a place where we are excited to put down roots and contribute meaningfully. I’m committed to investing myself fully in the MICDS community and look forward to working alongside all of you. I am deeply honored to join you as your next Head of School.
With gratitude, and with burgeoning Ram Pride,
Chelle Wabrek
