A Q&A With Suzie Matthews, Assistant Head of School

When Suzie Matthews arrived at Brooklyn Friends she had more than 20 years of experience in the world of education. Most recently, Suzie was the Assistant Head of School and Upper School Head at Sante Fe Preparatory School in New Mexico. BFS is thrilled to have her back in New York—specifically right here in Brooklyn!

Q: You obviously felt that BFS would be a good fit for you when you took the position of Assistant Head of School, but how has that been reinforced so far this year?

A: It has been reinforced every day! From the leadership retreat and introductory one-on-one conversations with colleagues this past summer, to visiting classes and participating in Meetings for Worship, I have enjoyed the many opportunities to connect. My recent appearance as a BFX “Mystery Guest” at our extended day program was a wonderful experience. 

Q: Is there one moment in your short time here that stands out as a “Whoa, that was cool” kind of moment?

A: The Fall Fantasy Parade was one of many such moments! I love helping build new traditions, whether it is Spirit Week or our Opening Days for colleagues. After many weeks of planning, seeing our full community come together with joy and spirit on a chilly Friday morning was a thrill that will stay with me. 

Q: What has surprised you most about the BFS community that you may not have been expecting?

A: One of the things that drew me to BFS was the opportunity to be at a school with a wide range of ages. I wasn’t expecting to fall so in love so quickly with our youngest community members, though. Seeing the fundamental and critical work our colleagues do every day, whether it is singing the handrail song in the stairwells with Preschool students or planning a lesson about mathematical models for an IB math class in the Upper School, leaves me each day with a deep appreciation for the staggering amount of energy that goes into our collective work. 

Suzie Matthews received her B.A. from Drew University and an M.A. and MEd. from Teachers College Columbia University. She comes to BFS after most recently serving as the Assistant Head of School and Upper School Head at Santa Fe Prep in New Mexico.

This article appears in our print magazine The Life for Fall/Winter 2021.