In the upcoming school year, the Sidwell community will welcome Nikolin Eyrich as the new Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs. Eyrich, a long-time English and Art History teacher and department chair, will replace Robert Gross, who was recently appointed as the new Upper School Principal.
According to former Upper School Principal Mamadou Guèye, Eyrich has over two decades of experience teaching and working in independent schools. “Eyrich brings to Sidwell Friends a wealth of experience in curriculum development, academic advising, student support, and faculty mentoring and professional development,” Guèye stated in an email.
Until starting at Sidwell on July 1, Eyrich served as the English Department Chair at Morristown Beard School, a position she has held for five years. Eyrich previously worked as an English teacher and a grade-level dean at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, N.Y. and chaired the Upper School’s Crisis team.
Moreover, Guèye shared that during Eyrich’s visit to Sidwell Friends, students, faculty and administration were impressed by her keen insights and strategic thinking about school communities. According to Guèye, she prioritizes inclusion, student wellness, academic depth and excellence.
“It was our own community’s commitment to these goals that attracted her to Sidwell Friends School, which became only solidified by her time spent on campus with students, faculty, staff, and administrators,” Guéye explained in an email.
In an interview, Eyrich expressed her excitement about teaching art history. She looks forward to immersing herself in the Sidwell community, “getting to know the adults and students on campus and supporting our academic program.” Eyrich also plans to explore the Washington area as a local resident rather than a tourist.
When viewing the job description for Sidwell, Eyrich mentioned how she felt that it was the perfect fit for her future. She resonated with the school’s mission and values and was pleased to find a role that shared beliefs similar to her own.
After visiting Sidwell’s campus, she was struck by “how warmly everyone welcomed [her] and how thoughtful and incisive people’s questions were.” When returning to New York she felt excited about the potential of joining the Sidwell community.
