She became Ellis’ fifteenth Head of School in July 2017, and was celebrated and honored by the school community this past spring, prior to her retirement in June.

“Macon’s leadership at Ellis has been monumental, cultivating an era of significant growth for the School,” said Board Chair Tomar PIERSON-BROWN ’97. “From the moment she arrived, Macon has continually realized the Ellis vision while providing the wisdom, direction, and leadership essential to achieving our highest aspirations.”

To celebrate Macon’s time at Ellis, the community came together to plan two surprises for her in April. As families drove through car line on April 30, students and parents handed her cards and flowers. Later that morning, a surprise assembly was held in Janet’s Gym with students, faculty and staff from all divisions joining. The Glee Club sang “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, one of Macon’s favorite songs, Grade 1 students read a biography they wrote about Macon, and then-senior Isabel KEENAN ’24 read a poem. The poetry book was donated to the Babcock Library with a book plate dedicated to Macon.

Each division also presented a gift: a necklace from the Lower School, with a clay bead made by each Lower School student; a pie plate from the Middle School engraved with a “recipe” for what makes an Ellis girl; and a wand from the Upper School, fulfilling a statement Macon often made about the work that could be done if she had a magic wand.

The celebration continued during the annual Spring Her Forward event in May, which is typically a parent-only event but was opened to alumnae, grandparents, and parents of alumnae this year. Spring Her Forward: Macon It A Celebration was a night of laughter, joy, and unforgettable moments featuring a photobooth where faculty and staff dressed as past Heads of School posed with Macon and others. Guests wore sneakers as a nod to Macon's love for walking and her appreciation for a good pair of tennis shoes.

During an end-of-year luncheon held for faculty and staff, Macon expressed her gratitude and pride for the Ellis community and all of its members, and thanked them for showing her grace when she was a new Head of School seven years ago.

“I’m incredibly proud of you—of all of us—and what we have accomplished together,” she said. “And I say together, because none of what we’ve done has been the result of any one person’s solitary work. It has always taken a team—the team of people sitting in this room together today. I think you deserve to feel very proud of that work.”

Macon’s time at Ellis, marked by steady enrollment growth, strong leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic, and updates to academic programming as well as school facilities, is well worth celebrating. She led a strategic planning process that solidified Ellis’ mission, and that has informed the school’s direction and messaging during the past several years.

Fundraising increased significantly during her tenure, which made many improvements possible. She oversaw the renovation of the Middle School science labs in 2022, and of the Middle School hallways and common spaces in 2024. She encouraged the development of new and more engaging events for parents, thereby increasing their connection between home and the school community. And, she guided the school through programmatic and curricular changes that strengthen our students’ skills around understanding and connecting with students who have different perspectives and lived experiences, so that all students feel like they can bring their full selves to school every day.

“I have every confidence that this community will all continue this excellent work together,” Macon said. “I have loved being here with all of you, and I am going to miss you. Thank you again for all you do for Ellis, and all you’ve done for me—I couldn’t be more grateful.”