The work our faculty do at GA to maintain a safe and positive environment during the pandemic often goes unnoticed. Many faculty members do a great deal in keeping our schedules organized, keeping us healthy, and making sure the school year runs smoothly.
One faculty member in particular who has gone above and beyond in working in the community’s interest is Ms. Kennedy, Assistant to the Head of Upper School. This May will mark her 30th year working at GA, and in total, she has worked with seven Head of Upper Schools (HoUS), now including Dr. MacKean.
Ms. Kennedy notes that “With each new HoUS, it’s been important having the institutional memory of how we do things – when and how,” showing that a lot more goes into her position than what it seems. She keeps track of the more than 600 students and faculty, and expresses that it is sometimes “overwhelming” to manage the amount of people she does.
She also is an important contributor to school events such as Prize Day and graduation. Before the pandemic, Ms. Kennedy would “plan and execute” the senior trip to New York, and the Junior trip to the Phillies game. She has the responsibility of organizing and ensuring that student experiences are enjoyable and memorable.
Since March, she’s been following the local COVID-19 enforcements and staying home, mostly knitting and binge watching Netflix shows like the Great British Bake Off (TGBBO). Although she was able to make light of the situation by texting with Dr. Mackean and Mr. Oswald about the finale of TGBBO, she gives voice to the personal struggles she faces as well.
She misses going to the beach, as she grew up there and usually would go almost every weekend. Ms. Kennedy mentions that “I’ve only seen my daughter three times since March, and I miss her immensely.”
Managing over 600 people and having the responsibility of keeping everyone safe and happy is a hard job that isn’t recognized too often. Ms. Kennedy has worked hard over the past 30 years, and her effort is becoming more evident the longer our school faces pandemic.
She ends off by saying, “I don’t think I can account for all aspects of my job, but I love [it], and I’m looking forward to a return to normal.”