Faculty Highlight: Meredith Schlow, Pre-K Head Teacher

For over 240 years, Friends School of Baltimore’s educational journey has equally emphasized the mastery of content with the mastery of essential skills required to succeed in the world- skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and empathy, to name just a few. Meet some of our outstanding faculty and staff who guide our students through this journey each and every day.

Meredith Schlow, Pre-K Head Teacher

B.A. - English/Writing, Goucher College

At Friends School since 2002 (24 years), when I joined Pre-K as an assistant teacher.

Why did you choose Friends and/or what do you love about teaching at Friends?

I chose Friends as a school for my daughters before joining the faculty. My great aunt graduated from Friends and went on to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics from Johns Hopkins in 1918. I always thought there must have been something special about a school that encouraged a young girl in the early 1900s to excel in math. Friends was the only school we toured when we looked into private schools for our daughters. The school was an excellent match for them – and for me when I joined the faculty the year my youngest entered first grade. 

I love working at Friends. I am surrounded by dedicated, committed, brilliant teachers and administrators, and curious, creative, imaginative four and five-year-olds. My job is collaborative, gives me the freedom to tailor my curriculum to the interests of my class, and is guided by the Quaker testimonies. I love that part of my job is to teach the SPICES (Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Stewardship), and I love teaching tolerance, respect, and communicative skills in the classroom. 

What do you love about teaching your subject in particular?

I honestly don’t know why everyone doesn't want to teach Pre-K! I spend each day with people who love everything I love – books, poems, rhyming games, building with blocks, baking, imaginative play, yoga, solving problems. And they're always excited about learning something new! 

We have a unit on misunderstood animals, and I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to watch a child’s fear turn into interest, compassion, and conservation; last year, children who had been mortally afraid of bees before our unit were searching the playground for flowers to provide nectar for a bee they found crawling around – a far cry from running away screaming! As my former co-worker and mentor used to say, there is no typical day in Pre-Kindergarten – each brings its own challenges, excitement, and opportunity for growth – in teacher and student alike. 

How does the Pre-Primary curriculum and teaching at Friends School prepare students to be successful?

Our curriculum is play-based merged with core Quaker values, and obviously a large part of my job is to prepare the children academically for Kindergarten. But we know that a child’s academic success is largely dependent on a feeling of belonging, of being safe, accepted, and valued in his or her classroom. If a child isn’t comfortable and happy, learning can't take place. Relationships with peers  – and teachers – are often developed during choice time, when the children have the opportunity to practice collaborative skills, expressive and receptive language skills, mutual respect, and empathy. Play not only encourages curiosity, exploration, and risk-taking, but also builds our classroom community and helps children learn how to problem solve and work together. Through academic instruction, opportunities for play, and teaching Quaker principles, I try to balance each child’s intellectual growth with ethical development and emotional intelligence, laying a strong foundation for future success, regardless of their chosen path.

Tell us something fun about you- a motto or hobby perhaps?

I think most of the kids in my class know I’m an animal lover – I especially adore my dog, Jesse, with whom I walk every day while listening to audiobooks. I love visiting farm animal sanctuaries, cooking, baking, running, and spending time near the sea.