People over Process: Meredith Shankle is the Upper School Head Who Excels at Both

From being part of the team that brought Kohl’s to the East Coast to leading the Upper School team at Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS), Meredith Shankle P ’22’s career has been anything but expected. Meredith has a passion for details, a logistically-oriented brain, and corporate-level management experience, but those who have worked with and alongside her also value and appreciate her warmth, humility, and heart for connection. In her eleventh year at SSFS, Meredith reflects on the learning that feeds her insatiable curiosity—from her many diverse roles at the School to a recently-earned M.Ed. from Vanderbilt—and the Quaker values that inspire her respect for every job on campus. Most of all, she expresses deep appreciation for the close-knit community she’s found at the School and the talented and inspiring individuals that she’s come to consider family. Read on for edited excerpts from our recent conversation with Meredith.

Walk us through some of the highlights of your career leading up to SSFS.

I didn’t start out in education. I began my career working in retail management—a part-time job at Pier One Imports while I was an undergrad at BU [Boston University]. I loved the logistical side of retail, and now realize there are many similarities to education in terms of there being many different pieces that all need to work to deliver a seamless experience to the customer. I also discovered that what I love most about life is learning about and connecting with people. I got really good feedback that led to opportunities for advancement, becoming the assistant store manager while in college.  

I studied art history at BU—it was an amazing major in terms of being able to combine my passion for art with my love for learning about people and figuring out what makes them tick. When I returned home to DC after college, I didn’t expect retail to be my career. But, I found myself rising through the ranks from store manager to district manager, and I then started working in bigger stores like Conran’s Habitat [British home furnishings brand] and finally, Kohl’s—I was part of the group that brought Kohl’s to the East Coast.

When I got married and had my first child, I said to my husband, “The day I can’t be there for my child is the day I won’t do this anymore.” When that day came, I took a career break…[laughing] that lasted 11 days. The childcare center my daughter Lainey [Shankle ’22] attended lost its director and needed office help a few hours a day, so I stepped in. Before I knew it, I was the director of operations. That’s when my interest in education began in earnest.

From the childcare center, I moved on to be the admission director at the Montessori school where all three of my children attended. I loved doing all the things I was passionate about while being in the same place as my kids, but once they graduated, I felt I was ready to explore working with other age groups.

What attracted you to SSFS?

A neighbor who was a parent and employee at SSFS had been in my ear for a while about how wonderful the school was and how it would be a perfect match for me. Then, events in my personal life necessitated stepping back from director-level positions at the same time a position opened for an admin assistant in SSFS's Middle School, which was exactly the level of professional commitment that my family and I needed at the time.

I still remember the sense of calm I felt when I drove down SSFS’s driveway for the first time. Even before I had met a single human being on campus, I experienced this intense feeling of being in a place where I both belonged and could be rooted.

After working here for only a few months, I thought, This place is amazing; I want my children to go to school here. My two older kids were already set on their school path at that point, but enrolling Lainey in 6th Grade was the best decision I ever made. 

You’ve worn many hats at SSFS since you began; what are some takeaways from your previous roles that you draw upon now that you’re Head of Upper School?

Throughout my career, I’ve enjoyed the luxury of serving in different roles before being in charge. I find this offers an important opportunity to see how things actually work or how they could be improved, which appeals to the logistical part of my brain. It also gives me a unique appreciation for the importance of each role and the people in them. This philosophy is supported by SSFS’s Quaker values, like the belief that “there is that of God in everyone." Through the many different hats I’ve been fortunate enough to wear, I’ve found that no one is discounted—everyone has something of value to offer.

There are many hands in this work, and I couldn’t do my job without every single person in my division. I’ve been so fortunate to work with amazing, smart, talented people who all bring their unique vision and style to different issues, which helps me avoid being an island. Having been an admin assistant, registrar, program coordinator, and assistant division head at SSFS, coupled with my previous experience in educational leadership, not only provided hands-on insight into the challenges and opportunities of each function but also an understanding of the individuals serving in each role and how to elevate all voices and promote the most positive experience for students, families, and faculty.

This is your eleventh year at SSFS. What keeps you at the school year after year?

Put simply, it’s the people and the mission of the school. The sense of community that initially drew me in anchors me now. At SSFS, I’ve found something truly unique: people are fully “in it”—they’re committed to our mission. Being a Springer means you’re passionate, care deeply, and seek unity. It’s not just a job.

My daughter has graduated, but when I was a current parent, I got to experience in a direct way the faculty’s genuine care for students. Our teachers have a sincere interest in knowing students for who they are and helping them become who they want to be. They’re adept at providing students tools and developing their confidence—it’s an intentional, gradual process that ultimately results in stunning personal growth and transformation.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at SSFS?

If I had to distill SSFS into one word, it would probably be “community.” We’re serious about academics, but even more, we’re humans who seek to be kind—we’re a family. While I’ve had many rich experiences, including helping lead an Intersession trip to Costa Rica, Community Day stands out to me. It’s a fun and meaningful experience where each individual comes together with their cross-divisional “family group” [consistent groups that are made up of students in K-12 and faculty and staff from different divisions and departments]—once I became a Pink Panther, I’m a Pink Panther forever!—for an entire day of reflection, bonding, and community-oriented service projects. The entire school gathers for a special Meeting for Worship [a Quaker gathering involving sitting in quiet reflection and sharing thoughts as participants feel led], and we all walk to the meeting house together.

It’s delightful to see interactions between a 12th Grader and a 1st Grader grow from tentative to warm and familiar by the end of the day. The way the group brings you in and accepts you is SSFS at its best. 

Community connections are strong here, and our motto—Let Your Lives Speak—is always evident. Our students want to connect with faculty and each other just as much as we want to connect with them. They’re incredibly smart and engaged. We teach them to self-advocate and question the status quo, and I love how they keep me on my toes. 

And our faculty’s care and concern for the community—especially their students and each other—is like nothing I’ve ever seen, anywhere. The adults on our campus are some of the most dedicated people I’ve ever met. With every decision they make, they ask, how will this affect our students, families, and other faculty and staff?

What most excites you about leading the US?

I’m a people person, and I enjoy learning what makes people tick and what I can do to support them in their goals. It makes me proud and happy to support people, remove obstacles, elevate voices, and ensure the Upper School provides a great experience for all. I try to apply my own spin on the Golden Rule: treat others the way I hope they would treat my children.

I’m intrigued by new things, and I’m constantly learning. When I thought about what I needed to be able to lead a division, I investigated a lot of different M.Ed programs and settled on Vanderbilt’s Peabody College [Vanderbilt University’s College of Education and Human Development]. Since I’ve always been interested in how to make things better, this program was my enhancement, allowing me to take what I’d already learned about management and leadership and apply it specifically to the educational venue. 

Because of who I am, I’m very focused on details, but I also believe in trusting dedicated professionals—who are each an expert in their field—to do their jobs; I simply provide guidance as needed. My first priority is the students and families, but I believe we also need to raise each other up as colleagues, and it’s an honor to do that in this position. 

The Upper School is developing and flourishing—not because of me—but because of the collaboration among our incredible faculty, department heads, and leadership team who work together in sync. I’m so fortunate to work alongside our leadership team. Tiffany [Dr. Tiffany Evans, Assistant Head of Upper School] has a wealth of experience at previous schools and combines that with her social work background to be a steady, student-centered leader. Jim [Gagne, Upper School Dean of Students] approaches student discipline with kindness, respect, and humanity, viewing the process through an EJB [equity, justice, and belonging] lens and seeking to restore. And everything that Candice [Ashton, Dean of Student Life and Assistant Director of Institutional Equity, Justice, and Belonging] does is student-centered, influenced by the wealth of experience she has from many years at the School and her leadership in IEJB.

At SSFS, we care very deeply about academics and curriculum, but each day, families experience that we care equally as much about social-emotional learning. We care just as much if someone had a tough day as if they’re struggling in AP Calc.

Any final thoughts?

This is a special place. I arrived at a time in my life when I needed a break from being in charge, and now I’m honored and motivated to have returned to leadership and learn each and every day. I’m lucky to have landed here.

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Stay tuned for more community spotlights throughout the year!