By Lucy Ward

“I like a challenge, and I love to keep learning, so I am always looking for some way to continue to challenge myself,” said Assistant Head of the Upper School Sarah Redmond. After four years in her role as Assistant Head, Redmond has taken on her next “challenge” by accepting a position as Head of the Upper School at St. Catherine’s School, her alma mater.

When asked what memories Redmond would never forget from Collegiate, she fondly recalls her English 10 students. Not only was Redmond the Assistant Head, but she also taught English to Sophomores all four years. Redmond remarked that “each group had a different personality.” Being able to connect individually with each group has been a highlight of Collegiate. She holds teaching close to her heart. Her new role, unfortunately, will not allow time in her busy schedule for a class at first: “I have never not taught.” In the future, however, she hopes to be able to pick up a class.

“I just love teaching so much,” said Redmond. As a Redmond English 10 alum myself, I can confidently share that her passion for teaching is noticeable in the way she is always ecstatic about any new idea or opinion shared in class that might open up a new way to look at a text. Redmond remembered she “always wanted to be a teacher,” or at least wanted to be connected with kids, even when she wasn’t teaching. During an internship after college, Redmond would drive back to her summer camp on the weekends “just to be connected with the kids.”

Redmond’s passion for teaching goes further than just a love for literature. In her classes, she promotes the idea of “both and,” which helps explain the nuances and paradoxes not only of literature but of life. For example, in novels read in her class, such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Redmond acknowledges that symbols seen in these novels can be interpreted many different ways that might contradict each other. The expression of these contradicting ideas and the evaluation of them is a main focus point of her class. As Redmond describes in her English 10 Course Overview, the evaluation of these paradoxes found in literature can be used to “help you explore the inherent paradox of being a sophomore: a liminal space between the befuddlement of Ninth Grade and the mad-dash of Eleventh Grade.”

Apart from her English 10 students, Redmond emphasizes that she has “really, really appreciated the community of Collegiate.” She describes the people she has found here as “smart, funny, creative, and caring.” Redmond is grateful she is “not going to be so far away” and is excited to be able to add more to the community of people in her life. Redmond expressed both the difficulty and excitement of moving to a nearby rival school: “I think it will be hard when St. Catherine’s plays Collegiate, but in a good way.”

“I’m very, very excited about this job,” Redmond said of her new role at St. Catherine’s. Redmond herself is a St. Catherine’s alum and said that going back to her own school was definitely a plus. However, wanting to return to St. Catherine’s is about more than just going back to where she grew up. Redmond says that she is glad to be able to go “back now with this breadth of lived experience and professional experience.” Furthermore, she states that “to be able to give back to a community that gave me so much; it’s humbling and exciting.” Redmond is excited to see any new traditions or changes that have happened between her time there and now: “If there is something different, I’m sure there is a wonderful reason why, and I am very open to that.” 

Redmond and her daughter Eugenia.

Redmond shared that she is “always looking for the right fit. Collegiate was absolutely the right fit four years ago, and this feels like the right fit now.” After having Upper School Head Patrick Loach as a “wonderful mentor,” she feels that this “has always been the next step.” Redmond is excited for this next step and challenge for both herself and her daughter Eugenia, who will also be joining her at St. Catherine’s in their 3rd grade next year.

Upper School English teacher and Match advisor Vlastik Svab echoed the whole English Department in sharing his sentiments about Redmond leaving: “We’ll miss Ms. Redmond very much in the English department.” He noted that Redmond is always “full of energy,” and after having the privilege of sitting in on past classes, he said that she “keeps every kid engaged. It’s a great loss for us, but a great gain for St. Catherine’s.”

Redmond’s optimism and excitement for her new role at St. Catherine’s is truly inspiring. She fondly recalls her time at Collegiate with appreciation and caring. Redmond has been an impressive mentor for many at Collegiate, and she will be missed as she takes on her next adventure.

Photos courtesy of Sarah Redmond.