Friends Select School has appointed Sarah Kelly as interim upper school dean of students, marking a new chapter in the school’s leadership, as longtime dean Norman Bayard P’24, ’28 prepares to step into his next role as head of St. James School in Philadelphia, beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
Sarah has been a part of the Friends Select community since 2018, currently serving as an upper school math teacher, service coordinator, and lead advisor for the class of 2026. Her new position, along with the new director of upper school, Catherine Murray, marks a new chapter in upper school leadership while continuing to support students, community engagement, and school culture.
For Sarah, this opportunity is a chance to expand her impact beyond the classroom. “I have always wanted to explore leadership outside of the classroom,” she said. “It gives me the ability to have kind of a broader impact on school culture … and the ability to work with a wider variety of student groups.”
Throughout her time at Friends Select, Sarah has taken on many roles. In addition to teaching math, she has coordinated the upper school service programming, previously served as chair of the math department for four years, advised students, and coached a variety of athletic teams, including cross country, tennis, swimming, field hockey, and soccer. These experiences, she said, have given her a more complete understanding of students’ lives.
“Through advising, you get to see the academic growth, you get to see the social growth, you get to see the emotional aspects of high school,” Sarah said. “Service allows you to deal with programming and to figure out what kids are passionate about. Coaching has really taught me a lot about my students and who they are as people outside of the classroom. All of those roles have really helped shape me as a teacher, but also as an educator in general; figuring out what kids are passionate about and helping them navigate how to build that into their everyday life is fun and exciting.”
Sarah’s perspective is also shaped by her own high school experience. “My high school experience taught me the importance of having that balance,” she said. “It taught me the importance of having an identity in the place where you go that isn’t just academics, or that isn’t just social … to feel like you have a space and a place in your community that fits all of the different kinds of umbrellas is really important to me, which I think is why this role is so important.”
As Sarah prepares to step into this role, she is following a dean who has shaped many aspects of the upper school over the past seven years. Since joining Friends Select in 2019, Norman Bayard has overseen initiatives ranging from restorative practices and expanded family community to new student orientation programs and overnight class trips.
Reflecting on his time at Friends Select, Norman said, “I am most proud of the relationships that I’ve built with students and families, and my colleagues, especially the staff in the dining hall and facilities.” He also mentioned the Leadership and Black Studies courses he taught as his most meaningful work.
As Norman prepares to become head of St. James School, he is looking forward to “designing a newly acquired space for our students and the surrounding community, and most importantly, to have the opportunity to serve marginalized students.”
As interim dean during a transition for the upper school’s leadership, Sarah said one of her main goals is to maintain stability while continuing to strengthen student life. “A strong school community is one where every child has a place where they feel seen and heard and valued, a place where they feel like they belong,” she said. “I think that can look a number of different ways. I think clubs are a big part of that, giving kids the space to explore passions and identities and curiosities.”
She also emphasized the importance of making students feel welcome and supported. Looking forward, she hopes to work closely with the student government and continue building opportunities for students to engage with the community and each other.
As Friends Select enters a new chapter of upper school leadership, Sarah hopes to build on the foundation already in place while helping students find their place within the community.
