Meet Our New Head of School

This July, Peconic Community School welcomes Rachel Gomez Peterson as our new Head of School. Rachel comes to PCS with a deep commitment to progressive education and a breadth of experience across some of the country's most respected independent schools, including Friends Seminary, The Paideia School, and Packer Collegiate Institute. She holds a BA in History from Williams College and a Master's in Education from Stanford University, and she has spent her career teaching and championing the kind of thoughtful, student-centered learning that is foundational to everything we do at PCS. She also brings a personal connection to the North Fork, where her parents live and where she and her husband were married, making this new chapter feel a little like a homecoming.

As Rachel prepares to step onto campus, we spoke with her about what drew her to PCS, how she sees her new role, and her vision for the year ahead.

What made you choose PCS?

Education is facing a complex moment: declining enrollment across all schools, shifting family expectations, rapid technological change, and important questions about what young people need to thrive in the future. In an educational landscape this complex, PCS is a rare place; it is a school with a clear sense of purpose, a deep commitment to children, and a community that genuinely lives its values. I was drawn to the opportunity to help steward something special while working alongside a community that believes education can make the world a better place.

How do you envision the Head of School role at PCS?

I see my role as supporting and strengthening the great work already happening at PCS by listening carefully, building relationships, and helping the school grow while staying true to its mission, values, and culture. While the Head of School role provides a clear point of leadership and accountability, leadership at PCS will remain highly collaborative as we continue to grow and evolve.

What does your first year at PCS look like?

My first year is about listening, learning, and building trust. Together, we'll celebrate what makes PCS unique, gain clarity about our opportunities and challenges, and begin shaping a shared vision for the future. Throughout that process, we will move at the speed of trust.

We're so grateful to Rachel for the care and vision she's already bringing to PCS. A relationship-centered leader committed to staying true to all we are, she is exactly the person we want leading the school into the future, and we feel fortunate to have someone of her caliber at the helm.