Announcing Our New Assistant Head of School for Academics

Friends School of Baltimore is pleased to announce Rasha El-Haggan as the Assistant Head of School for Academics, beginning July 1, 2023.

Rasha currently serves as the Director of Curriculum & Professional Growth at Sandy Spring Friends School following four years as the Upper School Academic Dean. Working closely with division heads, school leadership, and faculty, her focus has been to implement systems and processes to enhance the excellence of the school's curriculum. She has spent a significant portion of her time documenting and analyzing the curriculum for gaps, alignment, and interdisciplinary opportunities. We believe Rasha’s experience will help strengthen alignment across our divisions.

Throughout her 16 years of experience in Pre-K - 12 education, Rasha has been an educator and administrator. She began her career as an English teacher, where she discovered her passion for working with students and faculty. In her various roles, she has taught in the classroom, chaired departments, and developed, implemented, and evaluated curriculums. We are confident Rasha will help foster the professional growth of our faculty and provide strategies so that all of our students continue to receive a rigorous education in a supportive environment.

During the selection process, Rasha’s commitment to Quaker education, as well as inquiry-based instructional practices became clear. She frequently spoke of her appreciation for what she has learned during her time at Sandy Spring Friends - the value of worship sharing and reflection, and embracing silence that allows others to share their thoughts and opinions. This understanding of Quaker education, along with her own educational philosophy that is rooted in a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; the importance of a dynamic academic program that is holistic, transferable, and engaging; and a commitment to lifelong learning, make her an ideal choice for this inaugural position.

Rasha holds a BA in English from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an MA in teaching from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her Maryland teacher certification, she earned an Advanced Professional Certificate (APC) and is a certified trainer in Concept-Based Curriculum & Instruction. She is an adjunct faculty member at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, where she taught Supervision and Professional Development. 

Friends School of Baltimore would like to thank the members of the Search Committee - Steven Rookwood, Kara Lewis, Andy Spawn, Schoen Oakes, Kirsten Walsh, Sarah Meteyer ’08, and Heidi Hutchison - who devoted a significant amount of time and energy over the past few months to select the right person for this essential position. We also want to thank those of you who met with and provided feedback on the candidates, ensuring that a myriad of voices and perspectives were considered in the decision-making process.