Quaker Values in Action Brooklyn Friends School’s Student-Centered Pedagogy

Brooklyn Friends School is foregrounding a pedagogy rooted in Quaker principles and contemporary educational practice, head of school Crissy Caceres recently explained. In a presentation for the school community, Caceres outlined an approach that emphasizes relationship-building, reflective practice, and student agency as central to academic and social development.

Caceres described a curriculum designed to foster critical thinking through inquiry-based and experiential learning across grade levels. Teachers at Brooklyn Friends School are encouraged to differentiate instruction to meet diverse learner needs while maintaining high expectations for intellectual rigor. The school pairs subject mastery with social-emotional learning, cultivating skills such as empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution that align with its founding values.

Equity and inclusion are presented as core commitments influencing curricular choices and community norms. Caceres noted that embedding diversity and restorative practices into everyday school life supports an environment where students feel seen and supported. Professional development for faculty is prioritized so instructional strategies evolve in response to student needs and contemporary research.

Assessment practices at Brooklyn Friends School balance formative feedback with summative evaluation, allowing educators to monitor growth while promoting learner reflection. Cross-disciplinary projects and opportunities for student-led inquiry create pathways for applied learning and creativity. Caceres emphasized the importance of a school culture that models deliberative decision-making and community responsibility, reflecting the Quaker practice of listening before acting.

Observers of independent K–12 education will note that Brooklyn Friends School is articulating a coherent pedagogical identity that integrates values, academic challenge, and emotional development. As Caceres framed it, the school’s work is less about adhering to a single method and more about sustaining an intentional community in which students develop the skills and dispositions needed for thoughtful citizenship and lifelong learning. Like this page on Facebook, to learn more.

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Brooklyn Friends School is foregrounding a pedagogy rooted in Quaker principles and contemporary educational practice, head of school Crissy Caceres recently explained. In a presentation for the school community, Caceres outlined an approach that emphasizes relationship-building, reflective practice, and student agency as central to academic and social development.   Caceres described a curriculum designed to…