Kathleen “Kathy” Carroll Giles became the Fourteenth Rector of St. Paul’s School on July 1, 2019 after serving as head of school at Middlesex School since 2003. Before that, Rector Giles held a variety of roles at the Groton School, including dean of academic affairs, college adviser, English teacher, and coach.

She holds a Master’s in Education degree, a Juris Doctor degree, and an undergraduate degree from Harvard University. Rector Giles earned her A.B. with highest honors in English and American literature and languages at Harvard/Radcliffe Colleges, graduating magna cum laude as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She subsequently received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Rector Giles is married to Ralph Giles, also a long-term former faculty member at Groton School, who most recently was head of the Mathematics Department at the Fenn School in Concord, Massachusetts. They have three children, Kaitlyn, Daniel, and Eileen. Throughout her life, the Rector has enjoyed athletics as a competitor and as an avid fan. Her interests and hobbies include psychology and child development; spirituality; intellectual history; all kinds of music and art; gardening; and reading (everything and anything). She is also known for her devotion to her dogs and makes the rounds of campus early each morning with them, regardless of the weather.

Inside SPS: A Podcast Hosted by Rector Kathy Giles

Designed to share insights about our student-centered, fully residential approach to boarding school, each episode of this special podcast will highlight voices from our community and explore themes central to the St. Paul’s School experience.

Purpose and Values

Character Comes First

Rector Kathy Giles officially opens the 170th academic session of St. Paul’s School with her Fall Convocation remarks.

Rector Giles was named a 2024 recipient of The Association of Boarding Schools’ Ruzicka Leadership Award. Established by the TABS Board of Trustees almost two decades ago, the Ruzicka Leadership Award “celebrates extraordinary individuals who have dedicated two decades or more as a boarding school head of school.” Named after the late Steven D. Ruzicka, the award recognizes honorees’ dedication to the mission of boarding schools and commitment to offering the best boarding school experience possible to faculty and staff as well as students and their families.

Kathy with a student at graduation 2025

What we make together is so much greater than the sum of our parts; and at St. Paul’s, when we invoke our beloved School Prayer that will celebrate its 100th birthday in the next few years, we embrace the inspiration of the Love Divine with us, among us, and between us. Just because your days in chapel here are over doesn’t mean that their inspiration is any less valuable.  

Watch Rector Giles' graduation remarks
Weekend Rectory House

On several nights during the academic year, Rector Giles will open the Rectory to students for food, games, singing, and fun.

Cricket Walk with the Rector

An annual tradition, the Rector leads new students and teachers on a Cricket Walk, named for the surprise day off from classes announced in Chapel every fall.

73 Questions with Kathy Giles

From her favorite books to what she likes to binge watch and her bucket list, get to know Rector Giles.