Caring for Our Community

In Conversation with Recently Hired Employees

In the past four years, we have welcomed many remarkable employees who embody the school’s commitment to excellence in teaching and learning and dedication to its students and alumni. 

These individuals bring diverse experiences, innovative perspectives, and a passion for fostering a caring environment for both students and their colleagues. In a new Select News series, we highlight a few employees and their unique contributions to FSS.

Rohan Arjun
Director of Enrollment  Management & Financial Aid
Hiring Year: 2021–22


With your experience working at other schools in our region, what characteristics would you say set the Friends Select community apart?

Having worked in various boarding schools in the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania regions, as well as having experience in a Quaker school as both a student and administrator, there are several characteristics of Friends Select and its community that set us apart. FSS fosters a close-knit and supportive environment rooted in Quaker values of equality, integrity, and respect. We celebrate individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives, enriching the learning experience and preparing students for a global society. The school offers a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, equipping our students with many tangible and intangible tools including voice and agency, which prepare them to navigate an ever-evolving world. FSS promotes social justice and encourages students to live lives of consequence by letting their life speak. Last, but not least, FSS leverages our location in Center City Philadelphia, providing unique opportunities for bringing learning to life through hands-on learning and exploration through partnerships. These elements together create a dynamic and experiential learning environment that prepares students for success beyond the classroom.

What do you look forward to every day in your role as director of enrollment management & financial aid?

I am passionate about creating access to education and making a difference in the lives of students. Every day, I look forward to the opportunity to educate Philadelphia families about the incredible community, education, and experience that our institution offers. Our mission is to provide a transformative educational experience that prepares students to live lives of consequence. We believe that education has the power to change lives, and we are committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to access this life-changing experience. By providing financial aid opportunities, we aim to remove barriers to access and make our institution more inclusive. We believe that every student should have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education, regardless of their financial circumstances.

What excites you most about the future for FSS, both in your role and beyond?

What excites me most about the future for FSS is the continued transformation and growth that lies ahead. As the educational landscape evolves, FSS has shown a strong commitment to adapt and innovate, ensuring that we provide the best possible learning experience for our students.

In my role as director of enrollment management & financial aid, as the school’s enrollment continues to grow, I am particularly excited about the opportunity to serve even more students. FSS has a long-standing tradition of attracting and nurturing a diverse and talented student body. By expanding our reach and accessibility, we can extend the benefits of a Friends Select education to a wider range of students who will greatly contribute to our vibrant community.

The future for Friends Select is filled with excitement and promise. From the continued transformation of the school to the opportunity to serve more students, I am eager to be a part of this journey. Together, we will create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that prepares our students for a world of endless possibilities.

Rachael Polton
Associate Director of College Planning
Hiring Year: 2022–23


As someone who works closely with upper school students in their Friends Select journey, what would you say are key characteristics that set them apart from other kids their age?

Through their experience at Friends Select, our students discover the benefits of incorporating their location into their learning. It feels like the opposite of a “high school bubble” that many students experience. Because we are immersed in Philadelphia, students use our city to dive deeper into so many issues and topics. It makes them not only better students, but also more engaged school and city community members. This comes through in experiences such as Social Justice Week, regular field trips across the city, and our partnership with the Penn Biomedical Lab. We do an incredible job of bringing in speakers from every sector of life in the city. Through a combination of these efforts, our students better understand our complex city and leave FSS knowing how Philadelphia enhanced their education. These experiences 
make them more well-rounded, compassionate, and aware. 

What would you say are major components of the FSS experience that set students up 
for life in college and beyond?

Friends Select students develop self-advocacy. Our teachers are invested in their students’ learning and want to see them succeed. At Friends Select, our students learn to connect with teachers outside of the classroom when they need academic support. It is a skill that helps them in college and beyond. Through our school’s small size and our welcoming learning environment, our students feel comfortable with their teachers and know they have their best interest in their learning. This removes some of the intimidation that students might feel in a larger school environment. By consistently connecting with their teachers, reaching out for help, and taking advantage of time to connect, they’re well prepared for opportunities such as office hours in college. I hope that they see their teachers as people who want to see them succeed and who can guide them as they work toward their goals. 

What have you enjoyed most about FSS?

I enjoy the students. Our students here have such a wide range of interests, hobbies, and passions. As an advisor and college counselor, I value getting to hear what they are most excited about in their learning. As part of our eleventh-grade American history curriculum, our students write an extensive research paper about a topic of their choice. 


This is something that isn’t offered at every school, and I appreciate that it is a challenge we give to our students. In our college planning meetings, I always ask about students’ research and the diversity of the topics they are exploring. 
For me, this paper perfectly encapsulates the Friends Select learning experience because students are empowered to take ownership of their learning. As part of the assignment, students are required to interview an expert on their chosen topic. This can be an FSS community member or an outside expert. Through these experiences, they develop scholarship, get to dive fully into a topic that fascinates them, and reinforce their time management skills and writing abilities. When we do mock college interviews, we always ask about the history paper, as this is a great example of our students’ scholarship. It is so much fun getting to hear from passionate eleventh graders about their wide range of topics. It is something I thoroughly enjoy about our school!

Jae Clark
Athletic Trainer
Hiring Year: 2023-24


What do you look forward to every day in your role as athletic trainer?

The thrill and excitement of another day’s journey. As an athletic trainer, I’m presented with many different challenges and cases every day. Whether it’s a brand-new injury that needs to be evaluated, a personalized injury rehabilitation program for a student athlete recovering from injury, or even assisting in a strength and conditioning program for a student who strives to become a better athlete. The beauty of every day never being identical and being an integral part of the student athletes’ physical and mental well-being, makes me proud.

What excites you most about the future of Friends Select’s athletic program? 

The exponential growth of interest in athletics from the students over the past few years. Witnessing the process of increased quality in the competitive and winning spirit our athletic teams have adopted in such a short period of time is amazing. Whether it’s seeing our senior athletes deciding to participate in athletics at the college level, or our younger athletes talking about which sport they’re going to play next season, it brings me joy, and I’m blessed to be a part of such a great team. Bill, Carl, Dennis, Sarah, Herb, and the host of coaches and assistants make the entire dream work, and I’m greatly appreciative to be along for this journey. 

What are some characteristics about FSS students that set them apart from students at other schools? 

FSS students are encouraged to be their authentic selves, and they are not afraid to express it. What I've observed in my 11-year athletic training career is that school is where students are attempting to find themselves—academically and socially. Some of the schools I’ve worked with didn’t implement those values. FSS gives our students a safe space to find themselves and to become well-rounded individuals who better serve the community and the environment.