By Elizabeth Seward

Collegiate School’s new Head of School, Jeff Mancabelli, never anticipated a career in education.

In an interview with The Match, Mancabelli recounted his journey to the world of education. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in business from the University of Scranton, Mancabelli moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue a Masters in Business. However, a fortuitous opportunity to care for students at Georgetown Preparatory School, a boarding school in Bethesda, Maryland, presented Mancabelli with a choice that would define his career.

By accepting this job invitation, Mancabelli took a leap of faith and sent his life’s path onto a new trajectory where he earned a Master’s in Education and Human Development at The George Washington University. At the age of 25, he had already become a dean of a boarding school—a role he embraced with vigor. “I never saw it coming and loved every minute I got to spend with the students,” Mancabelli shared.

After eight years at Georgetown Prep, Mancabelli switched schools and started working at St. John’s College High School, a coeducational college preparatory high school in D.C. After 25 years at St. John’s, a suggestion from a friend opened the door to an unanticipated opportunity at Collegiate.

Mancabelli reading to a Lower School class.

Mancabelli wasn’t looking to change schools when a close friend jokingly suggested he consider Collegiate. The suggestion turned serious after Mancabelli shared lunch with Susie Benson (’62), a Collegiate alumna. Benson shared her personal stories about the close-knit community found at Collegiate, captivating Mancabelli for three hours with “story after story about how wonderful this place is.” That lunch ignited his curiosity and inspired his interest in the school’s rich history, ultimately leading him to Collegiate.

Mancabelli has taken on his role as Head of School with full commitment. In September, he began every day at Collegiate’s Lower School, which he described as “the happiest place in the world.”* The pure joy and genuine respect he encounters from Lower School students inspires him. “I don’t know how anyone could have a bad day if you start your day with drop-off,” Mancabelli remarked, reflecting on the contagious energy of Collegiate’s youngest students. To ensure a connection with students across all three divisions, Mancabelli has made it a priority to visit every Lower School classroom and read each class a story.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Mancabelli enjoys Richmond’s charm. “You really can get anywhere in 15 minutes, that’s the magic of Richmond,” he mused. From neighbors bringing him gifts to a grounds crew member giving him flowers on his first day, Mancabelli has been embraced by the hospitality of Richmond. Along with his wife, Tracie, and their three children—now either in college or recently graduated—Mancabelli has settled into Richmond’s tight-knit community, finding comfort in his new surroundings.

Mancabelli meeting Collegiate parents at Robins Campus.

When asked what he finds most rewarding about his position, Mancabelli pointed to the incredible diversity in his daily routine, which keeps him engaged with all members of the school. Whether it’s walking the campus with faculty at the break of dawn or cheering on students at athletic events, he thrives on meaningful interactions. As a Freshman advisor and Senior Speech mentor, he maintains close involvement with students, whom he considers the school’s core. Mancabelli admires the positive atmosphere at Collegiate: “There’s just a lot of joy on this campus. A lot of happy people,” he said.

What fuels Mancabelli’s leadership is his dedication to forming personal relationships with the entire Collegiate community. He believes that meaningful connections are essential to a strong school environment. His guiding philosophy, influenced by a mentor early in his career, is that students must always come first: “The desk is there to get the work done to get to the students. When you use your desk as an excuse, you should quit.” By prioritizing face-to-face interactions, Mancabelli hopes to be an accessible and engaged leader, sustaining Collegiate’s core values.

Though he’s new to Collegiate, Mancabelli is already deeply inspired by the school’s culture of respect and kindness; “Every student has a lot of respect for every adult,” he noted. He recognizes that it is his job to voice the extraordinary qualities of Collegiate to anyone who will listen. Mancabelli is astonished at the community he has discovered at Collegiate; he explained, “Whatever I had thought, Collegiate has exceeded my expectations.”

As our new Head of School, Mancabelli is not just a leader but a passionate educator committed to cultivating a culture of respect, joy, and connection. His career journey is a testament to the unpredictability of life’s paths, and he’s excited to see where this next chapter at Collegiate leads.

All photos courtesy of Collegiate School.

* Correction: An earlier version of this sentence read: “He begins every day at Collegiate’s Lower School, which he described as “the happiest place in the world.” – Oct. 11, 2024.