Stephanie Rafanelli

Stephanie Rafanelli, Ph.D., is an educational coach, consultant and research associate with more than 30 years of experience in formal and informal learning settings, including two decades as a classroom teacher and independent school administrator. Her research interests include adolescent girls' participation in extracurricular science, connecting educational research with practice and teacher learning. Prior to beginning her doctoral work, Stephanie promoted student wellness and mastery-based learning as a consultant for Stanford University’s Challenge Success. In addition, Stephanie helped develop and launch the Center for Childhood Creativity, an institution focused on linking research on creative thinking, learning and educational practice. Stephanie has worked with a variety of Bay Area schools and educational programs on curricular redesign, program evaluations and faculty wellness.

Stephanie has a B.S. in Biology and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Science Education, all from Stanford University. She and her husband, Andrew Backer, joined the HRS community in 2010. Her daughter Emma is part of the HRS Class of '26 and her sons, Oliver '20 and Tucke '17 are Head-Royce graduates.