(Tappahannock, Va.) – St. Margaret’s School’s Head of School, Colley Bell, announced today the appointment of Jenni Booker Baker ‘93 as the new Associate Head of School for Advancement. Baker joins from the Steward School, where she served as Director of Development, successfully closing out a capital campaign and achieving record-breaking annual fundraising goals while revitalizing the school’s development office and operations as well as building an active alumni board and alumni engagement program. At St. Margaret’s, she will focus on advancing the school’s admission and recruitment efforts, alongside achieving fundraising goals.
Baker’s return to St. Margaret’s is a heartfelt homecoming. An alumna of the class of 1993, she returned in 1999 to serve as Director of the Annual Fund and Director of Alumnae Relations. Baker has also held the role of President of the Alumnae Association and served on the Board of Governors as a member of the Advancement Committee. She is also a recipient of the Hannah Mallory Perkins ‘40 Alumnae Service Award.
“Coming back to St. Margaret’s is both a professional and personal calling,” said Baker. “I am eager to apply my skills and experience to further the school’s mission, which I deeply love. There has never been a better time for families to explore our beautiful campus and exceptional programs.”
As Associate Head, Baker will lead St. Margaret’s ambitious advancement plan, which includes expanding its rowing program, S.T.R.E.A.M. curriculum, and growing the school’s overall footprint. The college prep program has already seen an expansion of its AP offerings, with graduates heading to college with generous scholarships. Since July 2021, St. Margaret’s advancement efforts have raised over $7 million with the largest single gifts in school history, two – $1 million donations totaling a record $4.3 million last year.
“Jenni’s role will be to build on this success, as her love for her school is palpable at an important time of institutional transformation,” said the Head of the School, Colley Bell. “The region is about to realize what St. Margaret’s has to offer as a river-based educational enterprise – there is simply no school like it.”
Baker, a Richmond native, has a strong personal connection to the Northern Neck of Virginia, where her parents, Derwin and Mary Booker, reside in White Stone. Her family has a rich educational background, with her grandparents, Lucile and Derwin Booker of Farnham, serving long ago as a local principal, teacher and librarian. Married to Stephen and a mother to Sarah, 9, they also share their home with two lively dogs, Lefty and Lottie. This personal connection to the region and the school fuels Baker’s fierce commitment to the community and St. Margaret’s.
“Jenni’s passion for St. Margaret’s is unparalleled, and her proven success makes her the ideal person to expand our student body and attract families seeking an incredible educational experience,” Bell added. “Her dedication to her alma mater is unwavering, and this enthusiasm shines through in her work.”
