Sophia Academy
20th Anniversary Campaign
“Within our small community, our big ideas beamed bright, and I always felt as though we made up for our size in our now ever-present tenacity. In the future, I hope there are other alumnae, who like me, have been able to dream, and dream big. I know that to expand Sophia’s programming is to further push the boundaries of what we would have once believed to be possible for our students. The future is bright, and with a Sophia education, boundless.”
Dear Friends,
As we look toward 2026 and Sophia Academy’s 25th anniversary year, I find myself reflecting on the growth of our school.
Growth fueled by the support of our wonderful community.
Our 20th Anniversary Campaign – an effort that began with a $3 million goal to support our five strategic priorities of SophiaWorld, SophiaCorps, SophiaWellness, SophiaFamily and SophiaForever – closed in 2023 having raised $4.3 million. This campaign represented a critical investment in our priorities across teaching and learning, families, wellness, and our endowment. Belief in our school’s mission, appreciation for our devoted educators, and, most importantly, the achievements and potential of our girls inspired this rousing commitment.
What’s more, the campaign’s success signaled that we are just getting started.
It is impossible to talk about how far we have come without naming and celebrating the remarkable women who led the campaign: Co-Chairs Alison Eichler and Joan Sorensen; Board President Joy Fox; Trustees Hope Alswang and Lil O’Rourke and Maura Farrell, then Head of School. Their hard work, keen vision, and dedication transformed the dreams embodied in the five Campaign priorities into realities.
The campaign’s success would not have been possible without our stellar 20th Anniversary Planning Committee and generous donors – from those who have been champions of Sophia from its inception to our newest partners – we celebrate you and we thank you.
These tremendous efforts transformed Sophia in myriad ways:
During the course of the campaign the board of trustees revised the school’s mission and guiding principles and created its vision statement.
A full four-year music program, in partnership with the RI Philharmonic Music School, was established.
SophiaCorps inspired growing partnerships with Providence College and created a vision for on-going positions at the school (currently three) that focus on introducing young women of color to professions within independent schools and supporting their growth in the field of education.
We invested more deeply in culturally responsive pedagogy and continue to implement more practices that honor our restorative justice framework.
Together we supported our families – who represented the demographics most deeply impacted by COVID – through the pandemic by maintaining and looking to reinvigorate our Family Outreach Network and Team.
We elevated the importance of social/emotional support and additional academic enrichment by expanding our social work team and adding a literacy specialist to our faculty.
The mentoring program which pairs current students with female mentors from the greater community expanded from four to more than 20 and growing.
We benchmarked and enhanced faculty and staff compensation and began providing more competitive benefits (including health, vision, dental, life insurance, and 401(k) offerings that feature an employer match) for our exceptional team.
Our accrediting association, the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE), continued our accreditation with a strong endorsement of the school.
To explore a more detailed accounting of the many accomplishments toward realizing our strategic priorities, please click here.
In my short time leading this inspiring community,
I have learned that Sophia Academy is a small place that dreams on a very large scale. And why shouldn’t we? Sophia has so much to be proud of.
With over 300 graduates now in high school, college, graduate school and pursuing fulfilling careers, Sophia’s mission “to engage girls from low-income families on a joyful quest for self‐discovery and opportunity through a middle school education grounded in social justice” continues to grow in relevance and urgency as we move toward our 25th year.
I am honored to carry the mission forward with all of you and to imagine what the future holds for our school and our girls. Sophia Academy’s next milestone will mark a quarter century of growth and achievement. This moment urges us to begin dreaming again, with bold purpose and vision. I look forward to working with the entire Sophia community: students and their families, alumnae, faculty and staff, the board of trustees, and our many loyal supporters to secure the future of this remarkable place.
The best is yet to come as we dream about what Sophia can become for her 25th birthday.
With gratitude,
Marie D. Myers, Head of School