Head of School

Welcome to the 2022–23 School Year from the Head of School

Welcome to the start of a roaringly fabulous (in true Panther fashion) 2022-2023 school year!

As I hope has been true for you, summer provided me with an opportunity to step back and reflect upon all that has occurred over the past couple of years and consider our time together in the year ahead. This step-back-time had key ingredients within it for me, which included:

1. Resting my body and bringing mind and spirit back to its full might 2. Re-connecting with my three daughters in deepened ways—chatting with them about their days, friends, activities, and just hugging them and loving on them 3. Re-engaging with my home in creative ways—cleaning closets left alone for far too long, playing music that I love loudly and dancing, and cooking both involved and simple meals for the family’s enjoyment 4. Taking long walks and drives (with windows down and music blasting)—throughout Brooklyn and beyond, in nature, alone, and with company 5. Reading varied books—that teach, inspire, make me laugh and cry, spur innovative thinking, and also made me want to sit and write 6. Considering the needs of our beloved BFS—minding the work that happens in our buildings over the summer, checking in on the projects that many manage during these days, extending support as needed, and devoting time for dreaming about this school year 7. Taking time to reflect and consider the blessings that are a part of my life—a beautiful family, a profession that I absolutely love, and a school community that I believe in with full might As I have reflected upon these seven things, I have marveled at how much these differently-paced days have allowed for, and I am thankful. I am also thankful to the teams who have given so much to our school these weeks as well as all colleagues, who I know that, even in their summer breaks, have given time to thoughtfully planning in anticipation for September.

Among the books that I have recently read, The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker, is one that I gifted to the Leadership Team as they embarked upon their summer. As part of the work for our retreat last week, they listened to a podcast between Brené Brown and Priya Parker that you may find interesting to listen to. I had the pleasure of listening to Priya Parker when she graced the New York Heads of School at our annual conference last year, and I was so moved by the ways in which her work and the values inherent in our Quaker school community intersect. Encapsulated succinctly, Parker believes that when we gather, we must set a condition where people build a connection to one another and to the why and purpose of the meeting. Whether with one person or many, Priya maintains that how we begin a gathering matters greatly, and thus, we must take time to consider this in the design of our times together. Parker further asserts that navigating our time together requires us to engage the