Kelliann Carroll has proudly worn three hats at George School: assistant director of Admission, associate director of Admission, and — since last fall — director of engagement and the George School Fund. When she transitioned to her current role, she tucked several skills from Admission into her pocket.

“Mainly, I brought my love for the school,” she said. “I absolutely live and breathe George School. And my favorite part of Admission work was talking to families about all of the amazing things that their students were going to be able to do once they got here. I loved being a witness to students doing those things. That hasn’t changed.” 

A big part of what Kelliann loves about George School is its emphasis on giving space and priority to student voices. She recalls an occasion when several students had expressed interest in seeing their grades more often to track their progress, and were welcomed to a faculty meeting to discuss it. Those students came prepared — not with bullet points clear in their minds or scribbled onto notebook paper, but with a fully developed PowerPoint presentation. They walked in knowing they’d be taken seriously… and they were.

At the time, Kelliann had just come from working in higher education and never imagined students stepping up to the plate with such poise — let alone those in high school!

“I realized wow, students are really part of the process here and involved in a way I didn’t expect,” she marveled. “You hear that a lot from independent school marketing, that students have a voice and are part of the conversation.” George School definitely lives up to the hype, she said. “That’s something that the school does really well: helping students hone that voice. I love that in this new role, I get to see how it’s impacted people’s lives, careers, families.” 

Today, Kelliann enjoys frequent full-circle moments. Last spring, her first Admissions class met with her for a group photo. “They were 13 when they interviewed, and I got to see them graduate. It was beautiful to see that connections they make here really matter,” she said. “It helps me be successful in my role — to continue to keep George School in everybody’s hearts and minds, no matter what stage of life they’re in.” 

Kelliann (front row, center) and her first graduating admissions class on our sunny Admission porch, spring 2025. 

At the other end of the spectrum, right now, Kelliann is assisting reunion committees and loving it. “I get to hear the memories from alumni who lived it and love it still, decades later,” she said. 

As director of engagement, what feels most intuitive to Kelliann is authentic conversation — with current parents and alumni, along with past parents, faculty and staff. Among her favorite topics: the state of the union at George School. She is keen to hear what they feel the school is doing right, what needs improvement and why they remain connected to it. 

Continuing revelation is a vital part of Kelliann’s work, both with the off- and on-campus community. “We’re always trying to get better,” she said. “I want us to give students, faculty and staff the best experience they can possibly have. And that means embracing change, taking feedback, applying it and keeping the conversation as open as it can be.”

With the Great Green Give in the current forecast, the school’s top priority is, of course, giving the George School Fund a hefty financial boost. But Kelliann sees community participation, both on-campus and far-flung, as an even more fundamental reason for why giving matters. 

“Having a huge percentage of folks who are choosing to give back to George School is such an amazing demonstration of how strong our community is,” she said. “If 100% of faculty and staff are giving to the George School Fund on Giving Day, what story does that tell? It says the people closest to this experience, who walk this mission every single day, believe in it. Same with students: It says they’re getting exactly what they want out of this experience and that they believe in it.” 

Kelliann hopes this conviction is carried out in this year’s Great Green Give on February 20, 2026: “Let’s show how powerful we can be when we all contribute. Let’s show up.” 

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