Explorer West welcomed Barbara Frailey as our Head of School in July 2019.
Barbara has been working in small, innovative elementary and middle schools since 1997, and has been a school leader since 2010, when she became Lower School Director at Greene Hill School in Brooklyn, NY. Before coming to Explorer West in 2019, Barbara was the Assistant Head of School at Seattle Girls’ School for five years, where she was known as a collaborative leader and a creative and patient problem solver. Barbara also has extensive experience with instructional coaching and leading professional development, and taught both undergraduate and graduate education courses at Long Island University. In 2016 she was selected as a member of the first cohort of NWAIS Pathways to Leadership, a program for women school leaders preparing to become Heads of School. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Spruce Street School, an independent elementary school in Seattle.
Barbara loves the energy and creativity of middle school students, and really appreciates the energy and creativity of their teachers! When she’s not working, Barbara loves exploring the hiking trails of the Pacific Northwest’s mountains with her husband and daughters, knitting, running, and trying to keep up with her book club.
In Barbara’s words, “Explorer West is such a unique and inspiring school, and I am very honored and delighted that your community has chosen me to lead it. Thank you to each and every person involved in the search for the warm welcome, the tough questions, and the authentic sharing of Explorer West’s values and culture. I look forward to getting to know all of you better over the coming months!”
Our full announcement about Barbara joining Explorer West can be found here: Barbara Frailey HOS Announcement
