Community Profile: Pia Kelly

Serving more than a decade on both our Board and PTO, during which she helped guide High Meadow through a global pandemic, Pia Kelly’s dedication to our school has been indispensable.

Pia Kelly is a lifelong New Yorker who has lived in Ulster County for the past 17 years. When her young family moved to a home near High Meadow, she would drive past the school often, becoming more curious as her son, Noah – now the eldest of three – approached preschool age.

Pia knew very little about progressive education and had no plans to send her children to private school long-term. “When we toured, the biggest thing for me was what we saw in the upper school. Looking into a classroom and seeing the middle school students being so playful, having so much fun, that brought me to tears as it was so different from my own middle school experience and something I desperately wanted for my kids. At the time,” she recalls, “there was a waitlist, but about a week before school started, they opened up a spot. And the rest is history”. 

Today, daughter Tessa is in 3rd grade at High Meadow, middle son Rowen is in 10th grade at Rondout Valley High School, and eldest son Noah is a senior at Rondout.

Pia is a clinical social worker, and spent 12 years working as a therapist at a residential treatment center for adolescent boys in Kingston. She left that work in 2017 after Tessa was born, but her involvement at High Meadow started long before. “Prior to becoming a stay-at-home parent, I had a lot less free time, but because the boys spent so much time away from me–going to beforecare and aftercare–I tried to be on campus with them and for them as much as I could.” 

“My professional background was in a small nonprofit setting, our client base was very different from an independent private school, but it was a similarly tight knit, all-hands-on-deck community. I learned through this work that when resources are tight, we all pitch in with what we can, wearing many hats is vital to making it work. Being a volunteer as part of the parent community at High Meadow reminded me a lot of my professional work in that it really does take a group effort.”

Volunteering led her to join the Board in 2015, and over time, led to her being part of a lot of major changes at High Meadow. “We went through two Head of School searches in the nine years I served on the board,” she recalls. Pia’s greatest involvement came during the pandemic, during which she was Board Chair. “That was such a scary time, but the school ultimately thrived. I am really grateful for that, and also really proud of everyone involved in the school's success through such a uniquely tumultuous situation.” Today, Pia’s work with the PTO, while no less vital, is perhaps a little more fun. 

For Pia’s kids, “High Meadow is synonymous with childhood.” All three started as toddlers, and both boys continued through 8th Grade. “High Meadow is the only model of a school they knew up until high school,” she says.

Now that they have some distance, both she and her sons recognize that “they really felt seen here. High Meadow didn’t throw them into one category, but rather saw them for who they were. My kids are such independent learners, responsible, and good conversationalists. I think they learned a lot of that from High Meadow.” 

Overall, the transition to high school has been positive for their family. Her sons are active in school activities, play varsity sports, and have made many social connections. “Noah is in the National Honors Society,” Pia adds, and both boys have done well academically.

All the while, they’ve stayed connected to High Meadow. “They’re still actively part of the community,” Pia says, working in aftercare and summer camp, and helping with summer maintenance.

“They are so comfortable here. I’m glad they still get to be here in some capacity. The continuum from early childhood to first employment opportunity as teens has been a sweet experience, for them and for me.”

Of course, the transitions continue, with college on the horizon for Noah. “He initially thought he wanted a small school, very much High Meadow-esque,” Pia says, “but is now thinking he wants a bigger environment. He’s hoping to study interior architecture,” and wrote his college application essay about Popo Village, High Meadow’s student-constructed play space. 

“It’s a hard pill for me to swallow,” Pia admits. “I’m very close to my kids and very involved in their lives. They’re my everything, so having one getting ready to leave the nest is hard, but I’m slowly getting used to the idea of letting go. I’m really proud of him and excited for his next step.” 

And with Tessa still in elementary, Pia will get to enjoy what’s next for High Meadow, too. “I think High Meadow is in a really great spot right now,” she says. “I’ve seen so much growth over the last few years. I am so proud of this little school and all the people who give so much of themselves to make it what it is. While bittersweet, it makes me really happy to see so many new families with young kids coming in and reaping the benefits of this beautiful community.”