Head of School - Shannon Harris

It is an honor to lead the school that I am so passionate about in the community that I love, alongside such committed and talented faculty. Our collective purpose is to support all Antilles students to realize their full potential, in an environment that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

Because best practices are always evolving, I want to share with families that our faculty – and myself - are continuously engaged in professional development to ensure that fresh perspectives and new tools are incorporated into the Antilles experience.

In terms of a personal introduction, I am a New Jersey native with Caribbean roots, and almost 30 years of experience as an educator. I began my career as a classroom teacher and consultant with expertise in whole-school reform before moving to St. Thomas in 2002 as a visiting instructor of Spanish at the University of the Virgin Islands.

I joined Antilles in 2006, holding progressively responsible administrative positions (e.g. director of Admissions, Advancement, Chief Academic Officer, Assistant Head of School). The Board of Trustees confirmed me as the tenth Head of School (since 1950) in 2021 - and I am the first person of color in Antilles’ history to be appointed to its leadership position.

I hold a BA from Rutgers, Masters in Education from Cheyney, and certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard. I was awarded a fellowship with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in 2015, am a recent past Board member of the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum, and have served on multiple school accreditation teams (in addition to spearheading Antilles’ own successful re-accreditation).

In addition to the support received from our outstanding administrative team, teachers and trustees at Antilles, I am also fortunate to have strong, in-depth affiliations with independent school heads and associations stateside - which are proving incredibly useful in shoring up our resources.

Thank-you for your faith in Antilles. I look forward to continuing our work together, ensuring that your children receive a great education.