Susan A. Nagel Admissions Director

Susan has worked at FSM since 2005. She has a B.A. in history from Carleton College and an M.Ed. in art education from the University of Minnesota.

She also works at Eduweb, an interactive educational media development firm in St. Paul. Previously, Susan was an art teacher in the Mounds View and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school districts. When not giving tours and shuffling paperwork, Susan enjoys her Darwinian garden, cooking when she feels like it, building things with power tools, camping, playing in her family’s Xbox Rock Band “Soapy Kitten" or trying to beat her boss just once at Scramble.

As an admissions director, Susan believes that a good school fit is an essential element to a child’s success in school. FSM’s progressive education, grounded in Quaker values, meets a wide variety of learning needs and styles and supports students in a caring community. As a parent of two FSM students, Susan sees first-hand how small class sizes and dedicated, compassionate teachers help each child stay engaged in his/her own learning and work to his/her full potential.

“As a former public school student and teacher, I never really considered private school for my two guys. But when I walked in to tour Friends School so many years ago, it just seemed right. I liked the size of the community. I loved that everyone knew all the kids and greeted me warmly.

I am a mother of active boys so I was thrilled that students were allowed to wiggle and be excited about learning. And I really appreciated the small class sizes. It was wonderful to see each child engaged—no one was waiting around, standing in line with a glazed look. Kids weren’t ostracized for being different—quirky was OK. Everyone mattered and no one was expendable. Conflicts were viewed as normal and were problems to be solved (not ignored) but with respect and dignity.

Now that I am FSM’s admissions director, I see that look of relief in prospective parents’ eyes. Yes, there are schools out there that work well—schools where teachers can teach to their highest potential. Friends School of Minnesota is a school that honors each child and teaches him/her to work hard, be accountable and be a good, balanced person.”