I grew up in Concord Massachusetts in a family of educators and attended the public schools there, including the high school where my mother taught English. I was slow to learn to read, and probably would have continued to languish in low level math classes but for testing that suggested—contrary to appearances, I suppose—that I was a bright child. Birth of the Abilities Model^®!. We were not a family of significant means, and the first airplane ride of my life took me to my freshman year at Stanford, which I financed through a combination of work study, loans, and financial aid. That flight launched me on a path of work and study that has spanned six continents, and eventually yielded three degrees from Stanford—an MBA, an MA in Development Economics, and an AB in International Relations.

My two years living in Indonesia, immersed in local culture, language and institutions, had a profound impact on my world view. Like many young people who work abroad in this way, I developed a deep appreciation for complexity and nuance, and an understanding that no individual or society has a corner on the truth.  The volunteer organization I worked with was grounded in Quaker values, which tend to reinforce those notions, and which recognize the power of diversity and of collective wisdom. These values and perspectives inform my leadership of McLean School.

In addition to my work at McLean, some of my favorite professional moments have included facilitating the launch of ecologically sustainable coffee in every Starbucks store across the country, thereby establishing a partnership with Conservation International that has continued for two decades; creating the first ever LEED Platinum K-12 school building, and converting a fifty-year-old gymnasium into a LEED Platinum Quaker meetinghouse. I also look back fondly on my earlier work co-authoring the Appropriate Technology Sourcebook, an 800-page resource guide to technologies for rural development, with 50,000 copies in print, and creating a 1,250-volume microfiche-based library on appropriate technology that replicated the leading appropriate technology reference collection in 1000 locations around the world.

My three daughters are now young adults, and one of them was fortunate enough to attend and graduate from McLean. Natalie’s time at McLean gave me the gift of experiencing McLean as a parent. I love spending time with family, biking, hiking, reading, and admiring art. I rely on a regular yoga practice to keep my mind and body in tune.

Warmly,

Michael Saxenian
Head of School

Dr. Niesha Keemer brings 20-plus years of experience and a 360 view of early childhood education to her position as Head of Lower School at McLean. As a longtime administrator and conscientious collaborator, Dr. Keemer is a skilled communicator, planner, and mentor with a passion for creating an inclusive classroom environment where all learners can grow and be successful.

With a background in special education and social learning strategies, Dr. Keemer’s abundant experience, agility, empathy, energy, and “children first” philosophy serves both students and faculty well. Prior to joining McLean in June 2022, she served as Founding Principal at AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School in Washington, DC, where she was known for creating and maintaining strong relationships among school stakeholders and in the greater community.

As a dedicated advocate for children and their families, Dr. Keemer believes a positive school experience starts with the educators, and is committed to giving teachers the professional development tools and resources to make it happen. As a former online instructor teaching Master’s in Early Childhood Education courses and Teacher Certification programs, Dr. Keemer is a “teacher’s teacher,” adept at bridging theory and best practice. A Maryland native, Dr. Keemer holds a BA in Psychology, as well as two Master’s (Education, Literacy & Language and Religion, Pastoral Counseling) and a Doctorate in Early Childhood Education.

David brings enthusiasm and energy to his role as Head of McLean’s Middle School, grades 5 through 8. He first joined the faculty in 2012 as a history and geography teacher, and quickly took to McLean’s responsive classrooms and strong sense of community. Previously the Head of Upper School and Middle School at Commonwealth Academy in Virginia, David brought administrative leadership experience to McLean, and assumed the role of Head of Middle School in 2013.

Independent schools are familiar territory for David, who grew up on the campus of Seabury Hall School in Maui, Hawaii, where his father taught physics and chemistry. David came east for undergraduate studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, but those early influences were strong and David later earned his Master’s in Education at the University of Virginia.

Chip joined the McLean School community in June 2021, bringing deep expertise, infectious energy, optimism, and a sense of humor to his work with adolescents in our Upper School. A longtime administrator at schools including Hawaii Preparatory Academy and The Gunnery, Chip spent most of his career working to transform how schools integrate and innovate academic support before coming to McLean where, to his delight, support is not an add-on–it’s the program as a whole.

But one of his best qualifications is more personal than professional: his own learning challenges shaped a school experience that at times is taxing and inspired him to want to do better for others. This empathy, combined with decades as an educator and lifelong learner, himself, makes Chip a perfect fit for McLean. A range of experiences–from the United States Air Force to the family copper business–gives Chip added perspective (and a lot of great stories to tell!). Chip has a BA in American Studies and Political Philosophy from University of New Mexico, Albuquerque and a Master’s from Wesleyan University. In his down time, he enjoys the outdoors, reading, cooking, working on his house, and time with family.