The Catalyst (TC): What was the occasion for your leave? And, around what time did you leave?
Meredith Essalat (ME): My last day on campus was Friday the 10th of November… and my due date was the 21st [of November]. And, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s perfect because that is when we’re already out for Thanksgiving. I worked from home the following week because it was the APEC conference and so much of the city was shut down with that huge event. So, I got nervous that, if my water broke and I was in Belmont,…I could be like four hours out of the city with traffic and … I decided it was probably better just to work from home that last week.
TC: During your leave, how important was it for you to stay involved with NDB, yet also maintain balance with your personal life?
ME: I didn’t want to [leave and] I didn’t want to let anything drop at Notre Dame. I feel like Notre Dame is like my third child, right? So, everything takes priority in my life and I did the same thing with Clementine. I worked throughout my maternity leave and I think it’s great for my kids to see the example of getting…to be part of that routine and part of the fibers of everything that I do. I just think that’s really important.
TC: How did you stay so informed and involved with NDB?
ME: Every member of the Notre Dame staffulty has just been so incredible. I would say their patience with me [as] being somebody with a newborn or when I was pregnant,…being so communicative, and everybody’s willingness to be such team players was just such an incredible village to feel supported by while I’ve been on this new journey with Haller…Thank God for Zoom…That was the silver lining of the whole pandemic and Zoom made it really nice to be able to keep up with weekly meetings and all of that.
TC: That is great. That is really nice to hear…, everybody was just as excited always [and] wanted to…build a successful community together.
ME: And everybody was so kind, to be like you know, ‘take time with Haller.’ They’re like, ‘We’ve got this,’ and I mean, it was so amazing to know… that I could trust everybody so much. The school when I’m not there is in such incredible hands. It just made the whole process so much easier.
TC: What are some successes and challenges you faced while staying at home and still being the Head of School?
ME: I love being on campus at Notre Dame. [I] just, I love it. The energy that comes from me getting to be with everybody: the students, parents, staff, faculty, everybody. I think the hardest part of this is just feeling removed from that. It’s like when you’re a student and you’re homesick and then you come back and go, ‘What did I miss out on…?’ I could be back next week and I have missed out on two months of day-to-day life. That part is a little bit daunting. I miss just being in the company of everybody, but it has been so amazing to have the time to be at home with Haller and then with Clementine and to just start to build those bonds and watch them grow. That is irreplaceable, [and] that’s been special.
TC: How did you prepare for the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year?
ME: I think so much prep work goes on in August as we’re mapping out the year. I am so excited to come back and continue the Centennial celebration and for…all seniors to watch [their] journey start to culminate in terms of college acceptances. I’m super excited for Aquacades this year, especially with the Decades theme. I think it’s just fantastic. We’ve got [the] WCEA [accreditation visit and] WASCA coming up so there’s been a lot of work to prepare for our accreditation, which will be March [and] working with Dr. [Linda] Kern, who has been a great supporter for us in terms of the upcoming accreditation process. I would say just kind of trying to keep a day-to-day pulse on what’s going on. I think it has only allowed me to feel like I can come back into this game of double dutch and jump right into everything that’s going on.
TC: What have you learned about yourself during your maternity leave that you believe has positively impacted your position as the head of school?
ME: It’s the idea that we can continue to do hard things. I thought that my plate was full being a Head of School, being a mom to one child, being a wife, being a friend, being a sister, all those things. Now, to be a mom of two and to have a newborn who’s just figuring out the world on top of everything else…just continues to remind me that, especially as women, as individuals [and] as humans, we’re capable of juggling so many things and we can prioritize so many things simultaneously and do it to the best of our ability.
TC: What did you miss most about NDB?
ME: The people. I missed being with students every day. There’s nothing like the energy that comes from that. I miss being with all my colleagues and…parents. I would have Zoom meetings or phone calls or text messages or emails and it’s not the same as sitting in my office and getting to chat, so I miss all of that.
