The Board of Trustees and the Head of School Search Committee have announced the appointment of Chris Torino as Blake’s next Head of School. Torino will assume his role in the 2026-27 school year, beginning July 1, 2026. 

“Our comprehensive, rigorous national search aimed to find a leader who deeply understands Blake's values, inspires academic excellence, cultivates a vibrant and inclusive community, and possesses the strategic vision to lead our school forward,” shared Search Committee Co-Chairs Mosi Bennett and Chris Smith in their letter to the Blake community. “Chris quickly distinguished himself through his authentic leadership, profound insight into independent school education, and genuine commitment to fostering an environment where every student thrives. His strategic approach, collaborative spirit and clear priorities perfectly align with Blake's enduring traditions and our ambitions for future growth and innovation.”

Torino comes to Blake with 30 years of experience in education, serving at respected independent schools in diverse roles, including head of school, assistant head of school, dean of faculty and teacher. Since 2021, he has served as assistant head of school at Episcopal Academy, just outside of Philadelphia. In that capacity, he has served as a vital partner to the head of school, working to unify the school's identity across all divisions, leading institutional strategy and daily operations and advancing the school's mission at every level. 

Before joining Episcopal Academy, Torino spent four years as dean of faculty at New York City’s Collegiate School. Prior to that, he served as head of school at Cushing Academy, a grade 9-12 boarding school in Massachusetts. Earlier in his career, Torino taught English, coached baseball and basketball, led a dormitory and served as dean of faculty at the Taft School in Connecticut. His journey in education began with teaching and coaching roles at Gould Academy (Maine) and then as a founding faculty member at Sage Hill School (California). He earned his M.Ed. in school leadership from Harvard and his master’s in English from the University of Louisville.

Reflecting on his appointment, Torino shared, “I am honored to be joining The Blake School community—one renowned for transformative education and fostering exceptional, purposeful lives. In every conversation at Blake, I felt a strong connection to and alignment with the community—its vibrancy and shared commitment to mission, pluralism and values. The school pride and love of Blake are palpable and inspiring. I’m grateful to the search committee and Board of Trustees for entrusting me with the leadership of this remarkable school. I look forward to building upon Dr. Anne Stavney’s legacy, creating relationships within this thriving community, and continuing to deepen the positive impact of Blake students in the world.”