School News
Meet Garrett, Fayerweather's New Marketing & Communications Manager
Hello! My name is Garrett, and while you may have seen my name around, I’m excited to introduce myself as Fayerweather’s new Marketing & Communications Manager. I joined the FSS community this summer, and it’s been a truly joyous whirlwind learning about Fayerweather and its traditions, practices, and history. I’ve had quite the fun time meeting all of my new colleagues, the Fayerweather families, and of course, the absolutely delightful students who roam the halls. (I’ve also had the distinct honor of having the nickname “Garrett the Carrot” bestowed on me by the precocious Kindergarten class, a name I wholeheartedly embrace, since it’s one that’s actually followed me from my youth as a ginger-headed kiddo. The class was excited to learn that I even have socks with a carrot emoji embroidered on them!)
My personal and professional journey to joining the Fayerweather family is anything but direct. I grew up nowhere near here in a small mountain town in North Idaho, raising pigs for 4-H and wandering the woods on my family’s tree farm. I have lived, studied, and worked in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Seattle, and Massachusetts. I’ve held a wide range of jobs, including Forest Service timber crew member, substitute teacher, psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, professional student, tenured writing professor, and communications director. One of my favorite “through-lines” in this timeline is the constant reconnection to education and learning, so when the opportunity presented itself to combine my interests in communications and education in a progressive environment like Fayerweather, I enthusiastically said "Yes!"
As the Marketing & Communications (AKA MarComms) Manager, my role has a number of responsibilities. One of the most important is communicating with families, parents, and caregivers to keep everyone informed about upcoming events, important information, and the like. From weekly issues of The ‘Weather Report to email announcements about important upcoming events to sharing photos of the Fayerweather students learning in community, I have the privilege of helping families stay connected to each other and to the day-to-day happenings of the school.
In addition to keeping families informed, I’m also responsible for helping share what makes Fayerweather unique to the world at large. Whether managing our social media accounts (follow us on Facebook and Instagram!), advertising Fayerweather in digital and local media, or helping to organize organic outreach, my goal is to get as many people as possible to know about Fayerweather to help grow and sustain our school. Many people are curious about our progressive approach to education, and an intentional outreach program helps to answer questions and encourage people to learn more about what we do.
While paid advertising is great, the largest impact we’ve had is from people who personally know Fayerweather sharing their stories with others. One of our biggest assets in reaching new families is those who have experienced Fayerweather first-hand, because people are more likely to trust those they know. This is why programs such as our Word of Mouth Ambassadors or PeerPal are so invaluable: they give interested families the chance to connect with parents, caregivers, and alumni who know Fayerweather and can speak to the specifics of their experiences. If you are interested in being a part of these initiatives, I encourage you to reach out! While we provide training and support, these programs really boil down to just being open to answering questions and sharing your own experiences. You don’t need to know everything there is to know about Fayerweather – you just need to be willing to explain why Fayerweather has been a good fit for you and your family. In a nutshell, these programs boil down to making you more aware of good opportunities in your daily lives to share Fayerweather's sparkle with others.
I look forward to continuing to get to know you as I navigate my first year here. If you see me at the front of the school during morning drop-off or around school at various events, be sure to say hi! It’s been an exciting five months, and I’m looking forward to many, many more.
Fayerweather Street School | 765 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138 | 617-876-4746
Fayerweather is a private PreK, kindergarten, elementary and middle school. We engage each child’s intellect.