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Introduction

On December 9, 2024, Nick Purrington, Clerk of the Board of Trustees, announced the upcoming retirement of Kim Freedman, New Garden Friends School's Head of School, at the end of the 2024-25 school year. This page will serve as a central hub for information about the search process, with updates provided as new details emerge.

Head Search Committee

Susan Wooster, Clerk (Secretary of the NGFS Board of Trustees)
Nick Purrington, Clerk ex officio (Clerk of the NGFS Board of Trustees)
Alanna Adams (NGFS parent)
Tony Allen (Member of the Board of Trustees and NGFS parent)
Barry Bell (Middle School English Teacher and NGFS parent)
Jeff Bills (Director of Auxiliary Programs)
Justin Burke (NGFS parent)
Anyua Clark (NGFS parent)
Kim Costello (Member of the Board of Trustees and NGFS parent)
Aisha Dad (International Admissions and Student Coordinator and NGFS parent)
Brad Harrell (Galaxy Teacher and NGFS parent)
Tanisha Jones (Head of Middle and Upper School)
Maura Kern (Lower School Art Teacher)
Christine Lawe (Director of Literacy Instruction)
Pattie Midgett (Director of Enrollment Management)
Jennifer Milton (Middle and Upper School Counselor)
Genny Smith (Head of Lower School)
Maura Way (Upper School English Teacher)

Communications

January 7, 2025

To the New Garden Friends School Community,

Immediately following the announcement that Kim would be retiring at the end of this school year, the NGFS Board of Trustees began working to form a Head Search Committee tasked with finding a permanent replacement to begin in the 2026-27 school year. Members of the committee held an initial meeting on December 18, and their names are listed below.
In the interim, before a permanent head of school is hired, the Board of Trustees, in consultation with the NGFS Administrative Leadership Team, staff, and parents, is working to ensure that we have a qualified individual to lead New Garden Friends School during the 2025-26 school year. The Board of Trustees will consider both internal and external candidates to fill this interim  position.

In various ways, the Board of Trustees and the Head Search Committee will be asking the entire New Garden Friends School community for help in finding a replacement for Kim. Rest assured that we value the voices of all, and we will be reaching out to faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and students for feedback and engagement as this process unfolds.


If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Susan Wooster, clerk of the NGFS Head Search Committee at swooster.board@ngfs.org.


In peace and with gratitude, 
Nick Purrington
Clerk, On behalf of the NGFS Board of Trustees

Members of the New Garden Friends School Head Search Committee:

Susan Wooster, Clerk (Secretary of the NGFS Board of Trustees)
Nick Purrington, Clerk ex officio (Clerk of the NGFS Board of Trustees)
Alanna Adams (NGFS parent)
Tony Allen (Member of the Board of Trustees and NGFS parent)
Barry Bell (Middle School English Teacher and NGFS parent)
Jeff Bills (Director of Auxiliary Programs)
Justin Burke (NGFS parent)
Anyua Clark (NGFS parent)
Kim Costello (Member of the Board of Trustees and NGFS parent)
Aisha Dad (International Admissions and Student Coordinator and NGFS parent)
Brad Harrell (Galaxy Teacher and NGFS parent)
Tanisha Jones (Head of Middle and Upper School)
Maura Kern (Lower School Art Teacher)
Christine Lawe (Director of Literacy Instruction)
Pattie Midgett (Director of Enrollment Management)
Jennifer Milton (Middle and Upper School Counselor)
Genny Smith (Head of Lower School)
Maura Way (Upper School English Teacher)

12/9/2024

To the New Garden Friends School Community:


For the past twenty plus years, Kim Freedman has shared her gifts with New Garden Friends School, first as a parent and volunteer, then as Director of Admissions, and for the last eight years as our Head of School. It is impossible to overstate the impact that Kim has had on New Garden Friends School. We chose Kim to be our Head of School after several years of leadership transition due to her intimate knowledge of our community and her commitment to our mission to honor and develop each person’s gifts. She has consistently proven that we made the right choice, exemplifying what it means to lead with integrity, compassion, and resilience.
It has not always been easy, but Kim’s steady leadership through challenging times ensured that NGFS remained a safe and stable place for students and staff. During a global pandemic that caused unprecedented uncertainty and disruption in all aspects of life (but especially in our schools), Kim was a dedicated and resourceful leader. Our community not only persevered, but emerged stronger, more united, and deeply rooted in the values we hold dear.
Kim has shaped the future of New Garden Friends School through the creation and implementation of two strategic plans, ensuring that our school will remain a vibrant, inclusive, and innovative educational community in the Triad. Kim has led by example, always striving for improvement as a leader, innovator, and advocate for academic excellence and inspiring students and educators to reach their fullest potential. Her commitment to enhancing our program can be felt daily in our classrooms as teachers support and encourage student growth and individual learning styles.  
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Kim for her years of service.  We wish Kim the best in her retirement and hope that she will overcome her health challenges the same way that she has led the school to overcome many challenges that it has faced over these years. New Garden Friends School would not be the place that it is today without her leadership.  
In peace and with gratitude, 


Nick Purrington
Clerk, On behalf of the NGFS Board of Trustees

12/9/2024

Dear New Garden Friends School Community,


One of the things I admire most about our teachers is their ability to shift gears when things aren’t going according to plan. Nowhere is that more evident than on our trips, where students learn first-hand how to adjust and make new plans when the weather doesn't cooperate, the bus breaks down, or a classmate gets ill. Travel, even on day trips, provides our students with opportunities to problem-solve, collaborate, and compromise. Over the years, I’ve realized that when students return from trips, they are most excited to tell the stories of when things didn’t go exactly as they anticipated. Our teachers use these experiences to help our students learn that they have what they need, not only to shift gears, but to help their friends do the same.  
Friends, the 24 years I have spent in this community have been a master class in learning to take things in stride and find courage and community when one might least expect it. It wasn’t my plan to follow a new road next year, but it is time for me to do so. The health challenges I’ve been struggling with are not going exactly as we had hoped. With a heavy heart, I have made the difficult decision to retire at the end of this school year. 
Over the last few months, I have thought a lot about the significant gifts we give our students when we use curves on the road to teach them about resilience, fortitude, and the power of kindness and friendship. I smile when I hear our alums talking about how it was years before they realized that NGFS helped them to meet, not dread, the unexpected. 
This community has nourished my family and enlightened, inspired, and challenged me. The opportunities to work among our generous and dedicated educators and incredible students and families have profoundly altered how I perceive the people and paths I encounter. I couldn’t be more grateful. I have NGFS to thank for surrounding me with people who have helped me listen deeply and act thoughtfully and with greater compassion. As George Fox said, I have learned to walk cheerfully over the world; there is no greater gift.
It is my hope that we will be together again soon and that I will be able to spend these last months of my tenure doing the work I love in the company of this extraordinary community.


With massive gratitude,

Kim

Admissions