Anyone who knows Sarah Meteyer can tell you about her contagious smile that brightens every room, hallway, and office she walks into. Though she has been part of the Friends School community for most of her life, this summer she took on a new role as Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, charged with helping the school live up to its ideals more fully.

Ms. Meteyer started attending meetings at the Stony Run Meeting House at the age of five, and joined the Friends Class of 2008 at the beginning of Middle School.

After graduating from college, she returned to Friends School to work in the admissions office. She left briefly in 2019, before returning to support faculty and students in navigating the many challenges we are now facing. This includes processing events taking place in the greater community, like the protests surrounding police brutality, and those in the school community, such as the black@fsb Instagram page, which over the summer brought to light negative experiences some black- and people-of-color-identifying Friends students have had over the years.

Many of Meteyer’s former teachers are still members of the Friends faculty, and many of the same courses she took in high school are still taught, giving her insight into the student experience.

As a freshman, Meteyer took History of Great Civilizations, a class still required for freshmen. In that class, she learned about the Maya, the flourishing culture in Central America circa 2600 BCE from which she is descended.

Meteyer says she realized that was the first time she had seen herself in the curriculum at Friends School. In fact, it was the first time she had seen her identity represented at all; in her seven years as a student, she never once had a teacher who looked like her. Meteyer says this realization was a defining moment in her life, and an experience that, in combination with others, led her to do what she does today.

As the school’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, she strives to ensure that every individual is able to experience joy in our community – a difficult task, but one she says she works to tackle every day.

This school is facing itself in ways it never has before. From cultural shifts that need to be made, to the analysis and improvement of policies and systems, it is a time of immense change for Friends School. This is especially challenging in the time of virtual learning and a shifted schedule, which makes it difficult to facilitate conversations and find time for the community. But Meteyer radiates confidence in our ability to face these obstacles.

In addition to supporting growth within this community, Meteyer says one of the most important aspects of her job is to give students the tools, skills, and knowledge they need to “go out there and change society for the better of all people.”

She says she is beyond excited to get to know more students and form deeper connections. And we are excited to welcome her back into the Friends School community!

Ms. Meteyer is a gift to have in our school again. She loves to travel and experience new things (she’s getting her scuba license!) but nothing gives her more joy than laughter and spending time with other people. She sends good vibes to the community and wants everyone to know that:  “We’ll get through this together. We got this!”