Faculty & Staff

As an undergraduate in the Plan II Honors program at the University of Texas at Austin, Rebecca researched community-based learning programs for her senior thesis. She went on to earn her Master of Arts in Teaching at Boston University. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate education and in the early years of her career, Rebecca spent ten summers working at Girl Scout Camps in New England and the Adirondacks. It was in those settings – as well as in her five summers as a Girl Scout Camper in Texas – that Rebecca saw how girls thrive, collaborate, grow, and lead in extraordinary ways in all-girl settings.

Rebecca’s first formal teaching position was teaching integrated Humanities at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, MA, which reinforced her belief in student-centered, project-based learning. She took that philosophy back to Texas with her, where she taught Humanities and U.S. History in the Austin Independent School District and at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Rebecca went on to establish the position of Director of Diversity and Multicultural Development at St. Andrew’s, which is also where she met her wife, Robyn Mabry. In 2011, Rebecca returned to New England to teach at The Shady Hill School in Cambridge, MA,  and she became the Head of the Middle School at Worcester Academy in 2017.

In her time at Worcester Academy, Rebecca helped craft the strategic plan, instituted initiatives for social-emotional learning, elevated institutional commitments to equity and inclusion, and alongside the faculty, strengthened the culture of the middle school to address the unique needs of early adolescent learners.  In addition, she was an integral member of the team that shepherded the school through the COVID-19 pandemic by prioritizing health and safety while maintaining a robust academic program and strong sense of community.

Robyn Burchfiel (she/her) is honored to join the Girls’ School of Austin community as Interim Director of Advancement. A familiar face to many, Robyn brings a deep connection to GSA, having been a proud GSA parent (Addie, Class of 2022), a dedicated member of the GSA Board, part of the Head of School search committee, and most recently, a co-chair of the Strategic Design committee. As a passionate advocate for empowering girls, fostering a sense of belonging, and educating the whole person, Robyn is excited to serve the school in this important role.

With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community building, Robyn’s professional journey has shown her the power of mission-driven cultures. She believes that when a school’s culture aligns with its values, the result is stronger engagement, thoughtful decision-making, and a vibrant community that nurtures and inspires everyone involved. Robyn sees these qualities brought to life at GSA every day, which is why she is both excited and humbled to contribute to the school’s continued growth and success.

In this role, Robyn is committed to collaborating with faculty, staff, parents, students, and partners to ensure GSA reaches its full potential.  She is eager to help GSA strengthen its traditions while embracing its future.

Outside of work, Robyn enjoys exploring Austin’s trails with her husband, Steve, and their two lively dogs. She also loves experimenting with recipes discovered on Instagram and finding lighthearted ways to keep Addie—a junior at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School—on her toes (and occasionally rolling her eyes).

Robyn is excited to connect with the entire GSA community and looks forward to working together to support the mission and vision of this exceptional school.