Polly Donald
Head of School

• Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts, Boston University, Boston, MA
• Master of Arts, Elementary Education, Lesley College, Cambridge, MA

I began working for Friends’ School as a consultant in 1994 and have been the director of Friends’ School since 1995. It is a privilege to work, grow, and learn with a multi-talented, intelligent and dedicated staff who themselves are lifelong learners.

Education has been my passion for more than 30 years. Before coming to Friends’ School I taught for many years in both public and private settings, and worked as a volunteer in schools when my own children were young.

I have been fortunate to see Friends’ School grow and develop greatly in my years here. We have enlarged and enhanced our facility and continually improve our program. It is inspiring, exciting and rewarding for me to be involved in a community that takes children and education seriously and is at the same time so committed to its own growth.

When I am not at Friends’, I love to spend time with my husband and children, exercising, cooking, reading, going to movies and more. I am indeed fortunate.

Pedro Gonzalez
Business Manager

• Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

I am very happy to have joined Friends’ School as the Business Manager in the summer of 2003. I have worked in a similar position with an environmental non-profit and I truly enjoy the job duties and responsibilities. Before that I worked in government and the private sector in auditing, accounting, finance, human resources, and facilities management.

Along the way I have had the opportunity to be an accounting and finance trainer for professional organizations and have developed both a passion and respect for the instructing professions. I am glad to be a part of Friends’ holistic learning environment.

I am originally from Cuba and lived in Spain, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico before coming to the United States. I attended college in Florida where I also started my career. I moved to Boulder in 1991 and very much enjoy the outdoors and living here.

I love to spend time with my wife and our son, and enjoy the Colorado outdoors.

Mandy Best
Controller

• Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Utah State University, Logan, UT
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

I am happy to be working for Friends’ School as the Controller. I have a strong belief in the value of education and a love of children. Friends’ School is an ideal place for me to combine my accounting skills with my interest in education.

I began my career as a CPA with a large public accounting firm. Utilizing that experience, I have worked in various industries, including, banking, high-tech and non-profits.

Growing up in Moab, Utah instilled in me a love of the outdoors. Life in Boulder with my husband and three school-age children allows me to continue to pursue these interests. We enjoy hiking, skiing and spending time together as a family.

Caroline Landry
Development Director

• Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

I am excited to be working in development at Friend’s School because it brings together many of my professional experiences and interests and because it is such a wonderful, warm community. I worked at the Children’s Hospital Foundation in the Annual and Major Gifts program until 2001 when my daughter, Cate was born. Prior to that I earned my teaching license through the Teacher Intern Program at Stanley British Primary School and then was a classroom teacher in Denver. I also worked in Paraguay as a Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching health and nutrition in the schools and to health educators.

Originally from North Carolina, I moved to Boulder in 1990. I absolutely love living here and spending time running and hiking on the trails with friends, family and my dogs. I also love going to the movies, taking classes, and trying new restaurants!

Mari Engle Friedman
Director of Admissions

• Fine Arts, Washington University, St. Louis, MO

It has been a gift to be a part of Friends’ School since 1998 and to grow with this extraordinary family of learners. Both the children and adults amaze and inspire me by their commitment and passion to learn and grow and to help one another. I am fortunate as the Admissions Director to have the opportunity to tell so many interested people all about Friends’ School and what a very special place it is.

I have worked in school administration for over 20 years. Friends’ School has a unique focus of respect and nurturing for each individual. From the Preschooler to the 5th grader, the music teacher to the maintenance staff, we all flourish and thrive in an environment of care and learning.

I enjoy the beauty and richness of Boulder and the surrounding mountain wilderness. My husband and I love hiking, music, poetry, dancing, gardening, cooking and creating art. Perhaps our greatest joy is simply being with the people we love. There are not quite enough hours in a day for all the things we enjoy, and each day is filled with fun and brings new beauty.

Meg Hansen
Administrative and Communications Coordinator

• Bachelor of Arts, International Affairs, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

I came to Friends’ in 1999 as the parent of a preschooler. The following year I began working in the business office on a variety of small projects supporting the administrative staff. It became quickly evident that there was enough work here to keep me busy.

I worked in a variety of industries before coming to Friends’. I was a project manager and the marketing director for a local environmental design firm, helped run a small IT business and was a paralegal. Of course the role of mother to my sons, Michael (Friends' graduate 2007) and Jack (current Friends’ student) has brought me the greatest joy. It is a privilege to fill the roles of both parent and staff in this wonderful Friends’ School community.

I’ve lived in Colorado most of my life and feel lucky to live here. In my free time I train for long distance running races and love to ride my mountain bike in and around our beautiful mountains. I am a trained Master Gardener and occasionally help with landscape design.

Ann Reid
Program Coordinator

• Bachelor of Science, Sociology, Utah State University, Logan, UT

I just began working at Friend’s School in 2005 and I couldn’t be more excited. I look forward to being with children and the people who care for them every day in such a wonderful environment. My professional background was working in Sales and Marketing for US West; I took an early retirement to stay at home and raise our son Christopher, now 21, and our daughter Allison, who is now 18.

My biggest passion, in addition to my family, is skiing, and I have loved being a youth ski instructor at Copper Mountain since 1990. I love teaching children and sharing their enthusiasm and joy.

In my spare time I enjoy being with my husband, Cameron and our children. I love skiing, waterskiing, golf, reading and working out. I am enthusiastic about life and view every day as a chance to do something new.

Dacia Horn
Operations Assistant/School Chef

• Certificate in Culinary Arts, Boulder School of Natural Cookery, Boulder, CO
• Continuing Education, Business, California State University, Los Angeles, CA

I was born and raised in New Mexico and Oklahoma. By the time I reached the age of 18, I moved to Boulder where I have lived for over half my life. While Colorado is home, I still travel to New Mexico several times each year to visit our family farm.

I was a Nanny for 15 years before I had my daughter, Sofie (Friends’ School graduate of 2005). At that time, I started a small daycare in my home so that I could be a stay-at-home mom and began studying at the Boulder School of Natural Cookery. When Sofie was old enough to go to school, I started my own personal chef business so that I could create a schedule that worked around being a single parent.

In 1997, I started volunteering at Friends’ and catering some of the events. In 2000, when Sofie was in second grade at Friends’, I began the school’s lunch program. Recently, my role has expanded to include managing numerous events during the school year and the school building during the summer. I am now doing all the things I love which are being a parent, being around children and cooking.

Tom & Denali Flewelling
Maintenance Managers

Tom:

• Bachelor of Arts, Natural Resource Development, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Denali:

• Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

We came to Friends’ School in 1996, when we discovered it for our budding preschooler, Madison. We soon found ourselves enjoying our “favored volunteer parents” status as fix-it people in the classrooms (we love to fix things!).

Tom, being the stay-at-home parent (the hardest job he says he’s ever had!), increasingly found himself helping friends and family with repair and maintenance issues. When Denali retired from her Controller/Director position with the Space Science Institute, we opened our home repair business.

In 1999, we became Friends’ permanent maintenance team. The one drawback: we lost our “favored volunteer parents” status that we’d had since 1996, and became “why hasn’t this been fixed yet?” contractors!

In 2004, Madison graduated from Friends’ School and moved on to Platt Choice Middle School. We were held back. Our responsibilities have increased over the years to include oversight of other contractors who help to maintain this beautiful campus. Becoming the Friends’ School Maintenance Managers, and continuing to be part of this wonderful community has been both fun and fulfilling (we love that kid energy!).

John Paull
Teacher Preparation Program Director

• Bachelor of Science, Physics; Master of Arts, Education; Advanced Diploma in Education; University of Leicester, England

My long experience in education includes teaching all subjects in elementary school and science in middle school, science advisor to a large (UK) school district, principal at two elementary schools, children’s author, UK school’s TV program writer, and for 8 years, Director of a Denver-based teacher preparation program.

I’m delighted to be beginning the 2nd year as Director of the Friends' School Teacher Preparation Program, combining my time here with my role as Site Professor in the University of Colorado at Denver’s Initial Professional Teacher Education program, and lecturer in Research Methods.

I am particularly interested in the way classrooms develop, enhance and celebrate children’s innate curiosity about the world.

Susan House
Teacher Preparation Program Coordinator

• Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA

I feel very fortunate to be working in such a wonderful and supportive educational environment as Friends' School. I’m looking forward to another year of being a part of the teacher preparation program and the Friends’ community.

Besides being a mom (my favorite role), I have been involved in many rewarding jobs over the years, including working with residential special needs children, as a neuroscience research assistant at CU Medical Center, and as director of human resources for companies in Taiwan and Denver. For the past 15 years I have worked in school administration and also served as the coordinator of alternative teacher licensure programs.

Originally from Pennsylvania, a short summer visit to Denver soon turned into permanent residency after experiencing the blue skies and snow-capped mountains of Colorado. My favorite pastime is hiking and exploring in the Rockies, as well as traveling with my family to just about anywhere, especially if there is an ocean nearby!

Kathy Noel

• Bachelor of Arts, Religion, Denison University, Granville, OH

Friends' School
5465 Pennsylvania Ave.
Boulder, Colorado 80303 (Get Directions!)

Phone: 303.499.1999
Fax: 303.499.1365
Hours: 8am - 4pm MST