Sophia Academy 2023 graduation was, as always, a joyous, monumental milestone for our eighth grade class. I was spellbound listening to the unique appreciations expressed by the faculty and staff to each member of the class—they revealed and reinforced the strong bonds among students and teachers, and the special character and personality of each graduate. These are resilient and determined young women, and they have taught us as much as we have taught them.
Each Sophia student’s or graduate’s journey is more than just her own story. It’s one chapter in a collective narrative that binds the Sophia Academy community together. As eighth grader Evelyn Tillman said in her introduction of YSANEL Torres, a 2011 graduate and one or our 2023 Women of Wisdom, “The Sophia sisterhood is a bond that cannot be broken.”
We are a small and mighty community of students, families, faculty and staff, graduates, board members, mentors, volunteers, and donors. We’ve done a tremendous amount of work over the past five years—navigating through the pandemic, building our financial sustainability, and strengthening our social justice foundation. Each and every person’s commitment to the Sophia mission reverberates through our story: Sophia Academy is a place where one can make a profound difference. And for that reason, I believe Sophia Academy will continue to thrive and to draw forth the wisdom of many generations of girls as they forge a pathway to their dreams.
As I conclude my final reflection as your Head of School, I want to express my deep gratitude and admiration. Serving with you for these five years has been the highlight of my career and a highlight of my life. Thank you, and farewell!
-Maura Farrell, Head of School 2018-2023