Sarah Penney joined the Columbus Academy faculty in 2005 and began teaching kindergarten at the start of the 2023-24 school year while serving as the Wexner Chair in Elementary Education. She also is the lower school's co-coordinator for the Service Department, Strategic Vision Goal 2 representative for the Early Childhood Program, and is a steering committee member for service learning with Strategic Vision Goal 4. Outside of her main duties, Sarah is also involved with SEED, and MOSAIC. She previously taught kindergarten and second grade on campus and was a kindergarten teacher at a private school in Columbus. She also taught in the New York City area, including third and fourth grade in Brooklyn. Additionally, Sarah worked as a reading tutor on the Lower East Side. She was a grant writer, ran the mentoring and science programs as well as the after-school programs for the Lower East Side Girls Club. Sarah has a B.A. in metropolitan studies from New York University. Following her time at NYU, she earned a NYC Teaching Fellowship. Through the fellowship, Sarah attended Brooklyn College where she earned her M.Ed. Sarah and her husband, Sean, have four children: a daughter, Shenique ’18, and three sons, Dominic ’24, Anthony ’27 and Michael ’31. The family also lives with their trouble-making dog, Lenny.
Sarah’s favorite thing about Columbus Academy
“The faculty and staff, the students and their families and the beautiful campus!”
Little-known fact
“I make my own jam.”
Favorite places to eat
Brassica, Layla's Kitchen, and Watershed
- B.A. New York University , Metropolitan Studies
- M.Ed. Brooklyn College
