Ryan S. Dahlem, Ninth Head of School

Ryan S. Dahlem is the ninth head of school at Rivers. He arrived on July 1, 2023, having previously served as assistant head of school at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, a PK–12 school of 1,240 students in San Juan Capistrano, CA. There, he created a unique student-centered Innovation Strategy rooted in design thinking that has been recognized nationally in the world of independent schools. At Rivers, Ryan continues that approach of student-centered learning, built on a foundation of strong relationships and the school’s philosophy of Excellence with Humanity.


"Above all, I value deeply personal relationships between educators and students. They are at the heart of a transformational education."
—HEAD OF SCHOOL RYAN S. DAHLEM
Ryan graduated from Stanford University with an AB in psychology and from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a master’s degree in teaching and curriculum. He is a trained musician and avid mountaineer who has climbed the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. Ryan and his wife, Anne, have three children: Peter, Ella, and Colin.

Ryan was initially drawn to The Rivers School for its mission, core values, and tradition of Excellence with Humanity, which, he said, resonates deeply with his own educational philosophy. Building on the school’s momentum, he is delighted to lead Rivers into its next chapter.

MEET RYAN S. DAHLEM

Ryan S. Dahlem, our ninth head of school, spent several days on the Rivers campus before his official arrival. He visited classrooms, met with students and faculty members, and began the process of becoming a member of the Rivers community. We caught up with him on one of his early visits, and in this video, he shares his first impressions of the school and his excitement about his new role.

Head of School News

List of 3 news stories.

  • Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem gave opening remarks at the Veterans Day Assembly.

    Veterans Day at Rivers: Service and Sacrifice

    The Rivers School held its annual Veterans Day assembly to recognize and honor members of the community who have served in the military. This year, a new dimension of this 42-year tradition offered students the chance to give back and serve veterans in various community organizations throughout the Boston area.
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  • Among the attendees were keynote speaker Tim Fish, Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem, Trustee and Strategic Planning Committee Co-Leader Alison Hall, and Board of Trustees President Alan D. Rose, Jr. '87.

    Strategic Design Summit: Imagine Rivers 2035

    On Saturday, November 2, more than 100 members of the Rivers community—parents, alumni, trustees, and professional community members—came together for an exciting and important task: Imagining the future. Specifically, they were asked to spend the morning discussing, pondering, and creating a vision for The Rivers School of 2035, 10 years down the road. The Strategic Design Summit, convened by strategic planning co-chairs Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem and Trustee Alison Hall P’19, was a milestone along the path that will lead to the creation of a new strategic plan, targeting approval in June 2025.
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  • The visiting team had an all-access pass to the Rivers campus, visiting classrooms, meeting with members of the professional community, and asking questions to inform the team report. Left to right: Charles Rudnick, chief advancement officer, director of external relations, and history teacher, Dedham Country Day School; Lisa Robbins, assistant director of middle school and English teacher, Dana Hall School; Jessica Angell, English department chair, Pingree School; Tim Harger, dean of students,

    Rivers Welcomes AISNE Visiting Team to Campus

    A team of educators representing AISNE (Association of Independent Schools in New England) arrived on the Rivers campus on Sunday, September 29, for a three-day visit, as part of the school’s re-accreditation process. The team comprised independent school colleagues, representing a variety of positions and institutions, including nearby Dana Hall, The Winsor School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Milton Academy, among others. The visit marked the next step in the re-accreditation process, following a year of work that included internal reflection, focus groups, and the drafting of a self-study report, which was submitted over the summer. On Wednesday, the visiting team shared initial findings with a small group of senior administrators to conclude the visit; Rivers will receive a detailed team report in several weeks.
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