Welcoming Sarah Wolf as the Next SFFS Middle School Head

We are delighted to share that Sarah Wolf will be joining the Friends community this summer as our next Middle School Head. Sarah brings extensive experience as an educator and school leader and we can't wait to welcome over the next few months. You can read Pankti's full letter to the community below. 

 

Dear SFFS Community, 

We are delighted to announce that Sarah Wolf will join San Francisco Friends School as the new Middle School Head. Sarah’s enthusiasm for middle school is palpable and she brings a wealth of experience to Friends, both as an educator and school leader. We look forward to welcoming Sarah over the coming months and when she assumes her new role on July 1, 2025. 

Over the last seven years, Sarah has served as Middle School Dean of Academics and Student Life at the Polytechnic School in Los Angeles where she oversees curriculum, supports teachers and designs student programming, all through the lens of her commitment to progressive pedagogy. Throughout her career, Sarah has taught both middle and high school students, held a variety of roles focused on supporting student life and led international educational experiences for the Stanford Alumni Association. Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in American Studies at Stanford University, and her Master’s degree in School Leadership at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. 

Over the course of the interview process, Sarah shared how she was immediately drawn to our values and upon visiting campus quickly observed how our SPICES ground everything that happens at SFFS: “...one only needs to look at the purposeful design of daily life at SFFS to understand what makes the school so special and see how fully integrated these core values are in the work of every member of the community.” Sarah shares our commitment to creating communities where adolescents can flourish. “I appreciate the way that SFFS honors the unique attributes, talents and potential of each individual student while also focusing on the power of the collective community to make the world a better place.” 

As we got to know Sarah, what emerged was a portrait of a skillful, collaborative and sensitive leader. One interviewer observed that she “possesses a true commitment to building relationships” and “approaches challenges with a sense of curiosity and a desire to listen.” Sarah highlighted the importance of presence and visibility in the community, whether that’s in the classroom or on the yard, in supporting teachers, students, and their families. In describing her approach to supporting the academic program, Sarah “expressed strong strategic and systems thinking” and had a clear vision of the middle school experience she hopes to create in collaboration with our incredible middle school team.

I’d like to extend a special thank you to the search committee members for their service and leadership in this process. These dedicated members of our faculty and administration designed and facilitated a highly inclusive process, ensuring that students, parents, faculty members, and administrators met our finalists. The committee created thoughtful criteria to hone in on the skills and expertise we were seeking in our new Middle School Head, considering both current middle school and K–8 needs and opportunities, as well as our longer-term strategic priorities.

We now look forward to celebrating with gratitude our colleague and friend Lizzie Rogal and to welcoming Sarah Wolf to SFFS in the months ahead!

In friendship, 

Pankti