Chaya Keefe

Chaya Keefe is a search consultant primarily engaged in head of school and key administrator searches.

Chaya’s independent school roots run deep. She most recently served as Head of School at Bright Water Waldorf School in Seattle since 2019 where, among other responsibilities, she led the team responding to the ever-evolving needs of running a hybrid program during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also led the evaluation and reorganization of administrative staff and structure to ensure role clarity, establish consistent systems, and increase efficiency.

From 2013 through 2019, Chaya held the position of Director of Accreditation for the Northwestern Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS), where she oversaw the design and implementation of all aspects of the NWAIS accreditation process and served as a constant resource for schools and teams engaged in the work. She worked closely with school leaders to troubleshoot issues and to ensure consistency in quality and expectations in all phases of the accreditation process.

Prior to NWAIS, Chaya was a French teacher at Epiphany School in Seattle for 10 years. She has also worked as a private tutor, substitute teacher, and summer program teacher. Additionally, from 2009-2015, Chaya served as a Trustee, Secretary, and Vice President of the Board of Trustees at Seattle Waldorf School.