At our annual Alumni Weekend Awards Dinner on May 20, Marna Herrity received the Brooklyn Friends School Outstanding Faculty Award. In her 23 years at BFS, Marna has had a powerful impact on the lives of so many of our alums and continues to bring out the best in our current students.

Over the years, Marna has led the dance department and continued its amazing development, exposing students to new ideas and broadening their perspectives. This year’s incredible dance concert was a testament to Marna’s strengths as a dance educator.

Shortly after coming to BFS, Marna added volleyball to her plate, starting with middle school volleyball in 1986. She took the helm of our varsity squad in 1988, formed the JV team in 1994, and currently works again with our middle school players. Under Marna, our volleyball program has seen amazing growth—our teams have had championship seasons and many of our students have gone on to play volleyball in college.

Our current Middle School students are able to see another side of Marna Herrity. Many of our alumni may not realize that Marna, for quite a few years, has also taught middle and upper school math. She brings the same intelligence, energy, guidance, and dedication to mathematics that she has brought to everything else she has done for her students in 23 years.

Marna was presented with the Outstanding Faculty Award by our Director of Alumnae/i, Susan Price ’86, who has since said, “Thanking Marna publicly for the incredible and life-changing experiences I had as her student was one of the greatest honors I could ever have. Marna is the single teacher who had the deepest impact on me.”

In her gracious acceptance, Marna spoke lovingly of her students and how they have changed her life. Witnessing the growth of her students, regardless of discipline, has been one of the most rewarding parts of her work at BFS. “I remember one student shouting “I want your job, Marna!” during a dance concert warm-up and I still consider that one of the greatest compliments—that a student thought my job was so cool she could want it for herself.”

photos: top—Crystal Backus ’96 and Onie Lee ’98 congratulating Marna; bottom—Marna with her husband, Michael Congdon, a member of Brooklyn Friends Class of 1963