By Sheehan Bradshaw

This fall, current Assistant Head of the Upper School Sarah Baker will be starting a new chapter in her life as she and her family will be moving to Wilmington, Delaware for her new position as the Head of the Upper School at Tower Hill School. Recently, I talked to Baker and asked about her time at Collegiate and what her future will look like.

Baker first came to Collegiate in the fall of 2016 and was eager to jump into her new position as Assistant Head of the Upper School. This was Baker’s third time working at an independent school. Baker said, “I loved my time at both previous schools.” I asked Baker what surprised her when she first came to Collegiate, and she said she was “taken away” by the love that the students had for their school. “The students feel like it’s their school.” Our students “respond well to leadership challenges and school traditions.” Baker immediately picked up on how passionate students were about Collegiate and its values; this was exciting for Baker to watch and be a part of. She noticed it when students appeared in her office in the café in the Sharp Academic Commons to welcome her into the Collegiate community during her first year.

Baker said what made Collegiate stand out to her was how she quickly recognized “the deep connection between students and faculty.”

She said, “I love that I am able to have a relationship with faculty members and their families… it made Collegiate so special to me.” Baker said her three-year-old son Cover has grown up in the Collegiate environment and explained to me how he is “proud to be a part of it.” 

When we talked about traditions, Baker told me her favorite is at the end of the year when the seniors sing “Hail Collegiate” to their Kindergarteners. “It shows what we are about.” For Baker, the whole Senior Sendoff ceremony represents what Collegiate means to her, and it is something that she will never forget.

While Baker is excited to start her new position at Tower Hill, she will definitely miss being a Cougar. She discussed why she is going to miss her friendships the most. She explained how her friendships have felt longer than five years. “I made fast friendships that were yet really deep friendships.” Baker said the relationships created such a special bond in her life. “It is almost weird to be somewhere for five years and feel like you are leaving some of your best friends.” Even though Baker is going to greatly miss Collegiate, she told me what her father used to tell her in college: “It is a privilege to have something to miss.”

Baker feels this way about leaving Richmond and all of the wonderful memories and relationships she created. She said she will always associate Collegiate with “the building of my family… both of my children were born here, and my son grew up cheering on the Cougars.” She says her son and the rest of her family will “all always be Cougars.”

There are some aspects of Collegiate that Baker will continue to apply to her new role next year. She explained how she has enjoyed Advisory lunches this year. “I like how it is a time to relax and get to take a break from your day and connect with one another.” She appreciates the time in the week to talk to her advisory and check up on her students. As well as advisory lunches, Baker also enjoys the organized events for students that Collegiate holds from time to time, like when the school gets Kona Ice or Mr. Softee to come during a lunch or Extra Help period. “It gives everyone a chance to take a break and remember that it’s not all about school, all the time.”

Regarding the start of the 2021 school year, Baker is specifically excited that Cover will be able to attend the three-year-old preschool class at Tower Hill. “ I am excited to be able to have the chance to walk him into school every day.” This will be the first time Baker will be working at the same school her son will be attending. Baker is also eager to meet the new students and faculty: “It will be exciting to see new faces and meet so many new people.” 

Lastly, I asked Baker if she is planning on teaching any English courses, like she did during her time at Collegiate. Similar to Collegiate, juniors and seniors at Tower Hill have a variety of English electives to choose from. Baker said she will be teaching the course “Food Memoirs,” a course designed to immerse students in different food cultures and and deepen their knowledge of food history. 

Kitchy Hyman (’21) was a student in Baker’s English 10 class. He said, “Walking into her class every Z period always put a smile on my face, because I always looked forward to her class every day.” Hyman will remember the impact Baker had on his classroom experience.

Fellow Colleague and Upper School English teacher Linda Rouse had only positive words to describe working with Baker. “I can’t begin to count the ways I will miss Sarah Baker’s presence next year. She is always present in every moment. She is present when teaching, when listening to students and colleagues, and when offering advice or opinion. She has been an amazing colleague and fellow English Department crony. Of course I wish her well, but I will also miss her deeply.” Rouse deeply appreciated Baker’s presence in and out of the classroom and will remember her for the impact she left on the Collegiate community.

On March 8, Baker and her husband welcomed their new daughter Alice into their family. Baker said Alice is “ the smiliest baby.” Her big brother Cover has also loved having a little sister. He is “the sweetest big brother.” Baker and her husband are very grateful for their new daughter and are enjoying watching Cover get along so well with her. 

Baker will be back on campus June 1 for anyone who would like to say a final goodbye before she departs.

All photos courtesy of Sarah Baker.