Founders’ Day 2010

The Archer School for Girls founders’ day 2010

words from co-founder Dr. Diana Meehan

Dr. Diana Meehan, along with Megan Callaway and Vicky Shorr, founded The Archer School for Girls 15 years ago. Three mothers with middle school-aged girls sought to create a school where their daughters could thrive. As Dr. Meehan told students at the beginning of the year, the Founders sought girls for their school who were caring, daring, creative, kind, and intellectual, among many other attributes. On Founders’ Day, Dr. Meehan addressed the student body, whom she has called the realization of a dream.

During her speech on November 17, Dr. Meehan challenged the Archer community to reflect on the enduring significance of the women’s movement and how the ideals and values of those pioneering women are alive and well today in Archer students. In particular, she related the disparities in opportunities for women in 1951 compared to those that are viable for the Class of 2011, who will graduate this May. Dr. Meehan reminded the senior class of how much has changed since then and that central to this progress has been a “legacy of leadership” forged by women who broke new ground in the postwar era.

She urged the soon-to-be graduates to always be mindful of this legacy and to “choose important causes that need your attention and bring your focus and commitment to them.” She also pointedly addressed the community’s youngest members, Archer’s 6th grade class, to understand that they also will have a responsibility to make a difference in the world and to carry that ideal with them throughout their next seven years at Archer. Dr. Meehan closed her rousing speech with a rally cry that Archer girls live out every day, “Failure is impossible!”