Meet Pauline King (243) as she offers a powerful look back more than forty years after graduating as one of the first girls to attend Central High School. We are proud to feature Pauline as part of our ongoing Alumni Spotlight series during Women’s History Month.
Pauline grew up in Germantown and followed a path familiar to many young women in Philadelphia: Girls High. But while she valued her time spent and education received there, she remembers the environment as restrictive with less offerings for classes and extracurriculars.
“There was a expectation—how girls should act, how they should be,” she recalled. “Coming to Central felt freeing.”
Her decision to attend Central was encouraged by her friend Elizabeth Newberg (243). Liz asked Pauline and their friend Jessica Bonn (243) to join the lawsuit for admission into Central High School. Pauline thought to herself “Why not?”
Soon, Liz, Pauline, and Jessie found themselves at the center of a historic moment. They successfully won the lawsuit and were admitted as seniors in the 243rd graduating class alongside classmates Rachel Gafni, Michele Hangley, Nancy Moskoff and Karen Seif.
She recalls a moment from her first day when a teacher, unaware she was already seated, announced to the class that “there would be a girl here.” The students laughed—not at her, but at him.
Support came in unexpected ways, from classmates, extracurriculars, and connections that formed across differences. Joining the yearbook staff helped Pauline find her footing, but it was a now infamous party she hosted at her parents’ house that truly broke the ice and shifted the social dynamic.
“I think by November, the tide had turned,” she said. “We were just there, doing the work.”
Academically, Central opened doors that would shape the course of Pauline’s life. She credits one teacher in particular—Dr. Sanders (180),—with having a profound impact.
“He had us write essays every week,” she said. “We were so prepared. That class changed everything.”
Pauline attended Boston University, where she studied Spanish literature. She studied abroad and after that experience decided she would also get her MBA in Europe, this was at a time where going abroad wasnt as common.
Pauline has now spent over 30 years in Europe, currently living in Switzerland and working in procurement for a global reinsurance company. Her role involves overseeing the sourcing of everything from technology to consulting services—an unexpected but rewarding path that evolved over time.
Along the way, she built a life that spans cultures and countries. She met her husband in Germany and raised bilingual children.
Looking back, Pauline sees her Central experience as foundational
“It gave me a backbone,” she said. “Later, when I encountered sexism in my career, I thought, ‘You can’t bother me—I went to Central.’”
She remembers being the spokesperson for the media during the legal case that allowed her to attend Central.
“It was powerful, knowing I could handle those moments.”
Pauline remains connected to Central. She returns to the United States regularly and recently attended her 40th reunion, reconnecting with classmates and reflecting on how far things have come.
Looking back, her advice is simple: be brave and take risks.