Faculty & Staff > Rachel Szalay
Rachel Szalay
Head of School
Rachel Szalay was recently selected by the TCPS Board of Directors to be our new Head of School, moving up from her previous position of Assistant Head of School. Rachel originally joined TCPS in 2011 as a Kindergarten teacher, working closely with founder and longtime Kindergarten teacher, Maggie Price. This was a role she loved and held for ten years, developing much of what is our current Kindergarten program. In that position, Rachel also served as Lower School Lead, supporting the K-5 programs. In 2021, Rachel was proud to move into the role of Assistant Head of School which she held for the past five years, while continuing to remain active in the classroom.
Rachel holds a B.A. in Speech Communications from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and later earned her M.A. in Education and her teaching credential from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. A native of Pennsylvania, her passion for education began during six formative years teaching preschool. Prior to joining TCPS, Rachel taught K–3 music and served as a teacher trainer with the Peace Corps in Belize, where she also coached girls' soccer and co-led a girls' empowerment club.
Outside of school, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband and four children. She finds joy in cooking, singing, reading, creating art, and cheering on her kids at their sporting events. She’s also an active volunteer with a local women’s organization and a proud fellow of the San Diego Area Writing Project.
At the core of Rachel’s educational philosophy is a deep commitment to exploring identity and fostering a strong sense of belonging among students. While serving on the administrative team Rachel has continued to maintain an active role in the classroom in many ways, primarily as a music teacher and librarian. Rachel affectionately describes TCPS as her “happy place” and is honored to accept the challenge of her new role as Head of School. Go Tigers!