Dear Parents and Friends,
I am delighted to announce that Sheila J. Pauley, an outstanding educator and administrator in the field of athletics, physical education and health/wellness, will be returning to the Agnes Irwin community as our new Athletic Director, starting July 1, 2011.
Sheila, currently the Athletic Director at the Springside School in Philadelphia, served as Athletic Director at Agnes Irwin from July 2003 to June 2007, overseeing our sports and physical education programs and assisting in the recruitment of student athletes. Sheila helped to initiate , the annual competition for fall varsity teams, bringing girls’ sports into the limelight with Haverford/EA Day as well as the AIS Athletic Hall of Fame. She also served as head basketball coach from August 2000 to February 2005 and coached softball at the Varsity level.
Sheila is a seasoned educator who knows the independent school landscape for girls’ sports 
very well, and Agnes Irwin is truly fortunate to have her return at a critical juncture in the school’s athletics program. Sheila will be supported by a terrific team of physical education teachers, coaches and trainers, including a new Assistant Athletic Director responsible for our developmental sports programs in Middle School. Katie Cooper, coach for basketball and softball at the Middle School level, will fill the position of Assistant Athletic Director. In her decade at Agnes Irwin, Katie has taught Middle School science and served as the Dean of Students for 7th and 8th grades. She also has taught 11th grade Honors Biology and coached at the Varsity level.
As we move toward the construction of a new Athletic Center, Sheila and her team will play a key leadership role in shaping athletics at Agnes Irwin. They will be guided by a sound understanding of the significance of athletics and physical well-being in the life of girls and by a new athletics philosophy statement recently developed by an Athletics Advisory Committee of the Board of Trustees. The committee was charged with making recommendations to the school following an audit of our athletics program that I commissioned during the 2010-2011 school year.
The philosophy statement reads: “With a rich history of achievement, The Agnes Irwin School Athletics Program instills a life-long commitment to teamwork, leadership and reaching one’s personal best. Each athlete is guided in the transition from skill-building to mastery, solidifying a foundation of discipline, dedication, and confidence that fuels institutional pride and spirit. By providing a range of opportunities, our program supports the pre-collegiate athlete as well as the individual who aspires to continue a healthy lifestyle. The cornerstone of our philosophy centers on character, confidence, commitment and competitiveness.”
Agnes Irwin, in holding to its mission to develop each student’s highest potential in intellect, character and physical well-being, has many exciting days ahead as the school continues to strive for excellence across multiple disciplines. We know that athletics and physical wellness are but one part of a meaningful educational experience that prepares students to lead and enrich the world. It is an important part that can allow for tremendous personal growth, and we look forward to providing our girls with a spectrum of opportunities for such achievement.
Warmest regards,
Mary F. Seppala, Ed.D.