Rachel Adams

Rachel Adams earned her bachelor’s degree from King University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Central Florida. A first-generation college graduate and former collegiate scholar-athlete, Rachel experienced firsthand the transformative power of higher education and meaningful mentorship.

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Rachel began her career as an elementary school teacher and collegiate volleyball coach at Lake-Sumter State College, later earning recognition as Lake County Schools’ District Teacher of the Year. At Montverde Academy, she advanced to Associate Dean of the Middle School, was recognized as a Master Teacher, and founded the school’s beach volleyball program, developing student-athletes who went on to compete at the NCAA level.

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Rachel later served as Head of School at Stratford Academy. During her tenure, Stratford earned renewed accreditation, increased enrollment and philanthropic support, improved AP performance, and achieved one of its strongest college admissions cycles.

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Rachel’s connection to Within Reach Education began at Stratford, where she saw firsthand the impact of WRE’s work with students and families. Drawn to WRE’s deeply personalized approach and close-knit culture, she joined WRE as President in 2026 to help guide the organization’s growth while preserving the individualized care at its core.

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Rachel serves on the Women United Steering Committee and enjoys baking sourdough bread, hiking in the North Georgia mountains, and spending time with her husband, Kevin, and their black Lab, Bronco.