School Leadership
Anne Stavney, Head of School, earned her Ph.D., M.A. and B.A. in English from the University of Washington and her first B.A. in Government from Smith College. Since joining Blake in 2012, she has led the school in a successful $80 million comprehensive campaign; overseen seven capital projects including a new science wing, entry hall, dining commons and Early Learning Center; developed a global immersion program and a computer science program; and significantly revised the school’s curricula in world languages, literacy and mathematics. She serves as a board member on the Children’s Theatre Company of Minnesota and chairs its Education Committee; as a trustee and vice-chair of the School Year Abroad board; and as a member of the Independent Schools Association of Central States (ISACS) board where she also chairs its Accreditation Review Committee. Before joining Blake, Dr. Stavney served as Assistant Head of School and Middle School Director at her alma mater, Lakeside School in Seattle.
Anne Rubin, Associate Head of School, earned her M.A. in educational studies from the University of Michigan, her M.A. in English literature from the University of Chicago and her B.A. in English from Macalester College. Prior to Blake, she served as Head of Upper School at the Castilleja School in Palo Alto, California. From 2016 to 2021 she was an Upper School Grade Dean at Blake and also taught courses in English and gender studies. Earlier in her career she led faculty professional development at Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and taught English literature courses at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield HIlls, Michigan. She is a former recipient of the yearlong Aspiring Heads Fellowship from the National Association of Independent Schools.
Maren Anderson, Upper School Director, earned her B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Colorado, Boulder. After serving as Director of Experiential Education and an Upper School Science Teacher at Drew School in San Francisco, Maren joined Blake in 2020 as PK-12 Science Department Chair. She is also a Research Associate researching humpback whales with Cetos Research Organization. Her previous experience includes serving as a National Environmental Policy Act biologist and project manager, conducting environmental impact studies for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal agencies.
Robin Ferguson, Middle School Director, earned her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas and her B.A. magna cum laude in Psychology from Carleton College. She is currently pursuing her Ed.S. and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Learning from the University of St. Thomas. Working with middle grades learners is her passion. She spent 13 years teaching social studies in the Minneapolis Public Schools and Humanities at Breck. Since 2013, she has been part of the Blake community as a Middle School Humanities teacher and administrator.
Tessa McKeown, Upper Elementary Director, earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida and her M.S. in Educational Leadership from NOVA Southeastern University in Florida. Before joining Blake, she served as Director of Lower Elementary at Curtis School in Los Angeles and prior to that, she was Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Mirman School in Los Angeles. She also has 15 years experience as a lead teacher in first through fourth grade classrooms, as well as expertise in curriculum development and instructional coaching.
Toya West, Early Learning Center Director, earned her M.S. in Educational Administration from the University of Kansas and her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University. After working in day and boarding schools for several years, she spent 13 years both teaching and leading in international schools in Thailand, South Korea, Ecuador and Spain. Her passion for and experience with the International Baccalaureate program and Reggio Emilia philosophy led her back to the U.S. to work in early childhood education in New York. Before coming to Blake, she was the founding Director of Early Learning at the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York.