Proctor’s Interim Head of School Steve Wilkins has announced that Annie MacKenzie, P’22, ‘24 has been appointed Proctor Academy’s Assistant Head of School. Annie steps into this role as a 25-year independent school veteran with extensive experience supporting young people through her work on Proctor’s Deans Team, in the Learning Skills Department, as an advisor, a dorm parent, and as a coach. Annie takes over the Assistant Head of School role from Alisa Barnard, who will be stepping into a different role at Proctor as Advisor to the Head of School on Student Safety and Well-Being.

A native of Lake Bluff, Illinois, and graduate of Berkshire School, Annie completed her undergraduate degree in social work at the University of New Hampshire before embarking on a career with Outward Bound. In the fall of 1999, Annie joined the Proctor community as a Mountain Classroom instructor. Following her years leading Mountain Classroom groups throughout the American Southwest, Annie immersed herself in the work of understanding and supporting Proctor’s diverse thinkers in the Learning Skills Department, while earning her M.Ed. 

She and her husband, Matt, have raised their two daughters on campus, Sasha ‘22 and Braeden ‘24. Over the past year, Annie further evolved her role at Proctor as she became the 11th Grade Class Dean and served as the Deans Team Facilitator, supporting the student life experience at Proctor.

A product of a boarding school herself, a certified reading and writing specialist, and an experienced advisor, dorm parent, and coach, Annie understands deeply the challenges and opportunities that accompany adolescents as they navigate life at boarding school. Similarly, her experience in multiple facets of the Proctor community and long tenure as a faculty member prepare her well for the role of Assistant Head of School. 

Interim Head of School Steve Wilkins notes, “I am delighted that Annie has accepted the position of Assistant Head of School. She provides necessary long term stability for Proctor during this time of leadership transition. Annie is such a logical choice for this role because she is both a Proctor culture keeper and a culture maker.”