Tekakwitha Pernambuco-Wise

Dr Tekakwitha M. Pernambuco Wise is an Executive Consultant and Certified Executive Coach for Shiriri Tau Executive Consulting. She is also a senior consultant with The Jane Group and a consultant for The Approach Group. Over the span of 12 years, she was the Head of The Wyndcroft School (PA), Sea Crest School (CA) and Acting Head for Helios School (CA). Born and raised in British Guiana (now Guyana), she graduated from Brown University with a bachelor's degree and studied at the graduate education department of the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a master’s from The University of Toronto, Canada and a Doctorate from St. Mary's College of California with her dissertation concentration on the experience of female heads of NAIS schools. She earned a Klingenstein Fellowship at Columbia University and is an elected member of the Heads Collegiate Forum. In addition to serving on the Boards of Trinity School (CA), Archbishop Mitty High School (CA) and The Heads Network (THN), Tekakwitha served as the Secretary on the Board of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and is the current Board Secretary of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools. She is fervent about helping to develop the next generation of independent school leaders and has taught in THN’s Women in Leadership Seminar, NAIS’ Fellowship for Aspiring Heads and Carney Sandoe’s The Well. She holds a fifth-degree black belt in Judo and was an international competitor and national champion for Guyana. During her years in Hawai`i, she danced hula, including competing in the highly selective Merrie Monarch Festival.