Michael Gary Speaks
This year will mark my decade of service as head of Friends Select School. |
When I reflect on the past 10 years, I’m struck by how quickly—yet how fully—a decade can pass. It hardly feels like 10 years, perhaps because each chapter has been marked by growth, resilience, and the remarkable spirit of our community. |
What was initially my buzzword when I first arrived at Friends Select, “momentum,” has been a consistent theme of my tenure. Momentum is about more than just moving forward; it’s about carrying the energy of our collective goals to create lasting, positive change. Momentum has never lost its relevance, and it continues to define what our community is about: always moving forward while seeking ways to evolve. From the school’s increased visibility, competitive strength, and enrollment growth, to deepening our Quaker values and caring for others as evidence of positive change, momentum has meant working together to keep the school thriving.
I’m so proud of how we have worked and lived our strategic plan, Advance Friends Select, not just by launching new initiatives, but also by seeing those efforts take hold in the everyday life of the school. One of the most meaningful recent chapters in our story has been the launch of our grant from The Children’s Education Initiative (TCEI). This partnership is a clear affirmation of our mission to make a Friends Select education accessible to all, regardless of background or financial circumstances. The TCEI grant directly supports our commitment to equity and inclusion, allowing us to welcome new students and build a more vibrant, diverse community. For me, it represents both a celebration of how far we have come and a commitment to carrying our values forward, ensuring that Friends Select will change lives for future generations of students.
Friends Select recently had the unprecedented opportunity to expand and meet the rising needs of our community as we flourish with record enrollment. The Parkway Campus Expansion Project, the exciting next phase of the Advance Friends Select: Transformation Campaign, has added approximately 32,000 square feet of space on the second and third floors of the neighboring Three Parkway Building, creating much-needed space for excellence in teaching and learning while enabling us to continue deepening our relationship with the city of Philadelphia. This expansion represents our strategic commitment to creating distinct, meaningful spaces for each division that honor the unique developmental journey of our students.
A great deal has changed in 10 years. Together, we’ve weathered unpredictable challenges, most notably the COVID pandemic, while also seizing opportunities to expand what’s possible for our students and employees. Together, we’ve transformed our physical spaces, welcomed dedicated faculty, reached admission milestones, and deepened our commitment to the Quaker values that make Friends Select special.
Leading Friends Select these past 10 years has been a profound journey. As I look ahead, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for all the possibilities we’ll create together. There’s still work to be done to ensure we’re educating students who will have a lasting impact on our society, both in the Philadelphia area and beyond, but our momentum certainly continues.
