Friends Forward: Full Schedule

12:00pm EDT

Optional Lunch

Wednesday July 8, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

Variety of Pastas
Tomato Basil Sauce
Alfredo Sauce
Vegetable Lasagna
Vegan and Gluten Free Pasta Primavera
Caesar Salad
Garden Salad
Garlic Bread
Tiramisu

Wednesday July 8, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Faulkner Reading Room Abington Friends School, 575 Washington Lane, Jenkintown, PA 19046

MEAL

1:00pm EDT

Opening Session: A Gathering of Friends

Wednesday July 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

Muller Auditorium

Wednesday July 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Muller Auditorium

General Session

1:45pm EDT

Break

Wednesday July 8, 2026 1:45pm - 2:00pm EDT

Break

2:00pm EDT

Keynote Address - Lauren Brownlee, Deputy General Secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation

Wednesday July 8, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Muller Auditorium

Lauren Brownlee is FCNL’s deputy general secretary and the leader of the organization’s Community and Culture team. In this role, she serves as staff clerk and partners with the general secretary on organizational leadership. She offers strategic guidance around FCNL living into its values, particularly as they relate to its Quaker identity and its anti-racism, anti-bias, justice, diversity,...
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Wednesday July 8, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Muller Auditorium

General Session

3:30pm EDT

Break

Wednesday July 8, 2026 3:30pm - 3:45pm EDT

Break

4:00pm EDT

Workshop 1A: Meetings that Matter: Designing and Leading Effective Team Meetings in Quaker Schools

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

M3/M5 (Middle School Hallway)

In Friends schools, well-designed meetings are an essential expression of thoughtful leadership. This workshop explores how to create meetings that are purposeful, inclusive, and engaging—spaces where participants actively contribute rather than passively receive information. Participants will learn practical strategies for designing focused agendas, facilitating meaningful collaboration,...
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Speakers

Rebecca Zug

Zug Leadership Consulting

Rebecca Zug, she/her
Rebecca Zug, Ed.D. is a certified leadership coach and the founding consultant of Zug Leadership Consulting. She is the former head of upper school at Wilmington Friends School in Wilmington, DE, and serves on the Sidwell Friends School Board of Trustees. Since 2017, Rebecca has facil... Read More →

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
M3/M5 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 1

4:00pm EDT

Workshop 1B: Listening Across Difference: Merging DEI and Quaker Practice in the Classroom

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

How do we create spaces where students can engage meaningfully across difference while staying grounded in shared values? This workshop explores a classroom model that integrates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles with Quaker testimonies such as community, equality, and peace to foster thoughtful, respectful dialogue.Participants will examine a lesson structure that empowers students to...
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Speakers

Whittney Preston

Assistant Head of School, Friends School of Baltimore

Whittney Preston, she/her
Whittney Preston Ed.D. has over 10 years of experience as an educator and administrator. She began her career as a Spanish teacher for lower, middle, and upper school students at Heritage Hall School in Oklahoma City, Okla. During this time, she developed a passion for diversity and... Read More →

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 1

4:00pm EDT

Workshop 1C: Teaching Quaker Discernment and Decision Making Through Discipline Council

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

M11/13 (Middle School Hallway)

At Westtown School many major discipline cases are heard by our student leader and adult Discipline Council. Outcomes and supports for the students who appear before DC are recommended to the Upper School Principal. We use Friends Decision Making practices for this work. We will share strategies we use to train students and adults to live into this important work. We welcome voices from other...
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Speakers

Susan Waterhouse

Upper School Math Teacher and Math Department Chair, Westtown School

Susan Waterhouse She/Her
Susan is a longtime Quaker educator at Westtown School. She has deep experience in clerking in Friends’ school and Quaker contexts. While her primary work at Westtown School is in the Math department (Upper School Math Teacher and Math Department Chair), she has served as a faculty... Read More →

Liz Penland

Dean of Students, Westtown School

Liz Penland She/her
Liz is the Dean of Students at Westtown School. She works closely with the adults and students on the Disciplinary Council in on student disciplinary proceedings. This is her seventh year in school administration after decades of teaching and research in higher education and independent... Read More →

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
M11/13 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 1

4:00pm EDT

Workshop 1D: Art Therapy in Quaker Education: Shaping Future Activists and Change Makers

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

M1 (Middle School Hallway)

In this workshop, participants will explore how art therapy theories and interventions reflect and intersect with Quaker values of resilience, authenticity, social justice, and activism, thereby promoting emotional development and the growth of critical consciousness in children. Participants will learn the foundational alignment of art therapy and Quakerism, the presenter’s utilization of...
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Speakers

Lana Sommers

Middle School Counselor, Greene Street Friends

Lana Sommers, they/them
Lana is a board certified art therapist and licensed professional counselor who has worked in schools, camps, in private practice and clinical education for many years. As a neurodivergent therapist Lana specializes in neurodivergent affirming practice with children and their families... Read More →

Amy Danford

Lower School Counselor, Friends Select

Amy Danford, She/her
Amy Danford is a fourth-generation Japanese American community-based art therapist, educator, and artist with over 25 years of experience connecting individuals to the healing power of art. She has held positions at the Queens Museum of Art, Cincinnati Art Museum, Philadelphia Museum... Read More →

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
M1 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 1

4:00pm EDT

Workshop 1E: Modeling Instruction and Quaker Process in Science Education

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

M7 (Middle School Hallway)

Modeling instruction is a powerful, research-backed approach to science education in middle and upper grades. Students in a modeling classroom are challenged to build, test, modify, and reason from models is a way that closely mimics practices within the scientific community. Though not developed with Quaker process in mind, modeling instruction relies on communal discernment, collaboration,...
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Speakers

Lisa Ammirati

Abington Friends

Lisa Ammirati, she/her
Lisa earned her undergrad degree in Chemistry from Haverford College, then spent three years teaching Chemistry as a New York City Teaching Fellow while earning her MA in Science Education from City College NY. She briefly left the high school classroom to earn a MA in Philosophy o... Read More →

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
M7 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 1

4:00pm EDT

Workshop 1F: Onboarding at MFS: Peer Leadership and PLCs

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

M12 (Middle School Hallway)

Since 2020, MFS’s three-day summer orientation for all new faculty and staff and our year-long induction program for classroom teachers have been led by peer teachers rather than administrators. In addition, the yearlong induction program only includes typical meetings and presentations for the first half of the year and then becomes a Professional Learning Community following the Critical...
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Speakers

Dan Sussman

English Department Chair, Moorestown Friends

Dan Sussman, he/him
Dan teaches English to grades 9-12 at Moorestown Friends School and is the English Department Chair and co-leads summer orientation for new employees and a yearlong onboarding program for new teachers. In addition, he has been the 11/12 Dean and a CFG coach. Prior to his decade at... Read More →

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
M12 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 1

4:00pm EDT

Workshop 1G: Transmitting Quaker Practices to New Colleagues

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Rudin Lab (Near Library Entrance)

Do you struggle to find the time and resources to fully transmit Quaker practices to your colleagues? Are you interested in learning more about best practices from your colleagues? Would you like to participate in an initial attempt to gather and publish those practices in a resources that could be used by every Quaker school? If you've answered affirmatively to these questions, please join...
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Speakers

Drew Smith

Executive Director, Friends Council on Education

Drew Smith, he/him
Drew attended Earlham College, where he received a bachelor's degree in History. In addition, he has completed graduate work in Educational Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. Drew’s professional experience in Quaker education spanned almost 25 years at Friends School... Read More →

Wednesday July 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Rudin Lab (Near Library Entrance)

Workshop 1

5:15pm EDT

Walk to Meetinghouse

Wednesday July 8, 2026 5:15pm - 5:30pm EDT

M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

Wednesday July 8, 2026 5:15pm - 5:30pm EDT
M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

Break

5:30pm EDT

Meeting for Worship

Wednesday July 8, 2026 5:30pm - 6:15pm EDT

Abington Monthly Meeting

Wednesday July 8, 2026 5:30pm - 6:15pm EDT
Abington Monthly Meeting

General Session

6:30pm EDT

Dinner on Your Own

Wednesday July 8, 2026 6:30pm - 9:00pm EDT

MEAL

9:30am EDT

Morning Gathering & Announcements

Thursday July 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am EDT

Muller Auditorium

Thursday July 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am EDT
Muller Auditorium

General Session

10:00am EDT

Workshop 2A: Teaching In Resonance

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

M1 (Middle School Hallway)

As educators, we value and curate our course content. As Quaker educators, we strive to bring every student into community, with integrity, while nurturing their individuality. Resonance, the scientific concept, refers to an efficient exchange of energy. Resonant Teaching refers to the idea that students learn best when in a purposeful relationship with their teacher; they intentionally seek to...
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Speakers

Devra Ramsey

Germantown Friends

Devra Ramsey, she, her, hers
Devra has taught mathematics in independent schools and with students who attend them since she started her career in 1994. She earned her MSEd and teaching certificate for secondary mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. She has taught in three Quaker schools, includ... Read More →

Bob Wein

Germantown Friends

Bob Wein, he, him, his
Bob’s career started as a laser physicist, teaching at a university, preparing students for similar careers. With multiple detours through DoD work and government contracting, he has spent almost 30 years at independent schools after working on NSF grants to train teachers in unde... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
M1 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 2

10:00am EDT

Workshop 2B: Moments That Matter: Navigating Classroom Interactions Through a Quaker Lens

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

In Quaker education, how we respond matters just as much as what we teach. This interactive workshop invites educators to explore reflective practice through real classroom scenarios, thoughtful discussion, and practical pause strategies rooted in Quaker values. Together, we will examine moments of tension, conflict, equity, and belonging while considering how intentional reflection can lead to...
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Speakers

Lauren Bracey

Abington Friends

Lauren Bracey, she/her
Lauren Bracey is a middle school educator at Abington Friends School, where she teaches 5th and 6th grade Spanish and strives to create classrooms grounded in curiosity, joy, and authentic connection. Beyond the classroom, she helps coordinate middle school travel experiences, serve... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 2

10:00am EDT

Workshop 2C: Peace Path: A Protocol for Conflict Resolution

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

M3/M5 (Middle School Hallway)

Our Peace Path protocol/routine is designed to support students in resolving conflicts independently. Our goal is to make the process, thinking, and conversation around a conflict or unsteady interaction one that is sensitive to both sides of a story, is simple enough for our young students to eventually manage independently, and responsive to the developmental needs of our students. The path is...
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Speakers

Kathleen Geier

PK Teacher, Sidwell Friends School

I have been an early childhood educator for many years, both as a teacher at Sidwell Friends School and, before that, at School For Friends in D.C. I am co-clerk of our Quaker Education Committee at the lower school division of Sidwell Friends School. This involves designing classes... Read More →

Eve Eaton

CTL Coordinator & LS Academic Support Teacher, Sidwell Friends School

Eve Eaton is a Coordinator for the Center for Teaching and Learning and a Lower School Academic Support teacher at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC. While completing a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies, she went on sabbatical and worked as a Research Fellow in the Education... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
M3/M5 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 2

10:00am EDT

Workshop 2D: Crafting AI Guidance for the Schoolhouse: Perspectives, Civic Engagement, and Design Opportunities

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

M11/13 (Middle School Hallway)

In this session, we will explore how schools can engage in work that produces thoughtful, future thinking AI guidance in support of teaching and learning. This session will feature the experience of working on the MIT AI Student Leaders program to leverage student agency in designing AI policy and will share diverse perspectives on shaping clear, ethical, and practical frameworks for AI use in the...
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Speakers

Faith Ward

Director of Libraries, William Penn Charter School

Faith Ward, she/her
Faith Ward is an academic and library leader with more than two decades of experience advancing literacy, research, and innovation across independent schools, higher education, and national programs. Faith currently serves as Director of Libraries at William Penn Charter School, w... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
M11/13 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 2

10:00am EDT

Workshop 2E: Beyond the SPICES: Developing a Faith and Practice to Affirm Your School’s Mission

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

M12 (Middle School Hallway)

The SPICES acronym has long helped Quaker schools highlight core testimonies and values, but does this distillation fully reflect what is central to your school’s mission, priorities, and daily practice? This session shares the process DVFriends School undertook to develop its own Faith and Practice, including core testimonies and queries, to more fully reflect its identity as both a Quaker...
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Speakers

David Calamaro

Associate Head and Academic Dean, Deleware Valley Friends School

David Calamaro, he/him
David Calamaro is the associate head and academic dean at DVFriends School in Paoli and a 30 year veteran of Quaker schools. David also serves as the Clerk of the Friends School Mullica Hill Board of Trustees.

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
M12 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 2

10:00am EDT

Workshop 2F: Poster Sessions: 4 concurrent presentations

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Rudin Lab (Near Library Entrance)

The Logistics and Life-Impact of Senior Internships - Elyse Wilson, Friends Select In Quaker education, we strive to prepare students not just for college, but for lives of purpose, service, and action. Friends Select's Senior Internship Program serves as a bridge between the classroom, the city of Philadelphia, and the broader world.This 3-week program intentionally cultivates critical life...
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Speakers

Diane Pecknold

History Teacher, Abington Friends

Toni Vahlsing and Diane Pecknold are both nerds-at-heart, loving to dig into History and coming up with innovative projects for their students. Toni is the Director of Libraries and Archivist at Abington Friends School where Diane is a History Teacher.

Toni Vahlsing

Director of Libraries and Archivist, Abington Friends

Jane Ellis

Greene Street Friends

Ida Trisolini

Carolina Friends School & Peaceful Schools NC

Ida Trisolini (she/her) is the Staff Clerk at Carolina Friends School and a Peaceful Schools NC facilitator. Ida has served in multiple roles at CFS including Interim Head of Middle SChool, Interim Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning, and Middle School teacher and advisor. She... Read More →

Elyse Wilson

Friends Select

Elyse Wilson, she/her/hers
Elyse Wilson is an educator and learning specialist with over a decade of experience championing neurodiverse learners. Currently at Friends Select School in Philadelphia, she supports upper school students through individualized instruction while collaborating with teachers and families to... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Rudin Lab (Near Library Entrance)

Workshop 2

10:00am EDT

Workshop 2G: Teaching the Soul in the Age of Meta

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

M7 (Middle School Hallway)

Social media invites a curated persona and relies on external validation while the digital noise of constant stimulation deprives our brains of the silence necessary for deep listening and centering down before worship. Furthermore, a systemic dilution of Quaker education into social media-ready "values" or "SPICES" leaves students and teachers without the practices needed to navigate academic...
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Speakers

Polly Duke

Head, World Languages & Cultures Dept., Friends Academy

Polly Duke, she/her
Polly Duke serves as Co-Clerk of Westbury Monthly Meeting on Long Island, Assistant Clerk of Westbury Friends School's Board of Managers, member of Friends Seminary's Board of Trustees, member of Friends Council on Education's Board of Trustees, Co-Coordinator of New York Yearly Mee... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
M7 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 2

11:00am EDT

Break

Thursday July 9, 2026 11:00am - 11:30am EDT

Break

11:30am EDT

MFW with a Query (Programmed MFW/Worship Sharing)

Thursday July 9, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

Multiple Locations (see description for details)

Query 1: What helps the Quaker spirit flourish at your school?Clerk -TBDLocation - M3/M5Query 2: What helps keep MFW rich, relevant, and grounded in Quakerism at your school?Clerk - Ida TrisoliniLocation - M8/10Query 3: Our schools are rooted in Quaker beliefs and practices. What practices help your roots stay deep? Clerk - Bryan HoganLocation - M11/13Query 4: What is Quaker...
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Thursday July 9, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
Multiple Locations (see description for details)

MFW

12:30pm EDT

Lunch

Thursday July 9, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT

Faulkner Library

Menu:
Southwestern Salad, Grilled Chicken, Marinated Steak, Grilled Onions & Peppers, Flour Tortillas, Refried Beans, Seasoned Rice, Guacamole, Salsa, Flan

Thursday July 9, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT
Faulkner Library Abington Friends School, 575 Washington Lane, Jenkintown, PA 19046

MEAL

12:30pm EDT

Optional Roundtable Discussions

Thursday July 9, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT

Multiple Locations (see description for details)

Lunch and Learn! Pick up your lunch in the Faulkner Library, then join colleagues for an optional discussion on the topics listed below.Horizons- From Testimony to Practice: How Quaker Schools Animate Values Into Community Impact Location: M1Presenter: Maani Waldor, Grace CannonHow can we teach critical history in a developmentally appropriate way?Location: M3/M5Presenter: James ReesUsing...
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Thursday July 9, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT
Multiple Locations (see description for details)

MEAL

1:30pm EDT

Keynote Address - Gardy Guiteau, social justice educator, facilitator and owner of GJG Training and Consulting

Thursday July 9, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Muller Auditorium

Speakers

Gardy Guiteau

GJG Training and Consulting

Mr. Guiteau is a social justice educator, trainer, consultant, coach, and facilitator with extensive experience as a senior leader, manager, mentor in independent schools and universities. Gardy has given keynote addresses and presentations internationally and has offered workshops... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
Muller Auditorium

General Session

3:00pm EDT

Break

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm EDT

Break

3:15pm EDT

Workshop 3A: Turning Mission into Action

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

M3/M5 (Middle School Hallway)

A school's mission statement is more than just marketing—it is a covenant of our shared values. How does your school’s mission statement move off the wall and into the daily lives of your students? In this interactive workshop, we will collaborate to bridge the gap between high-level ideals and daily reality. We will begin with a brief reflection on the core purpose of a mission...
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Speakers

William Addis

Middle School Principal, Westtown School

William Addis, he/him
Will Addis has been the Middle School Principal at Westtown School since 2020, having previously served as Director of Theater and Chair of the Arts Department. Dedicated to the central tenets of Quaker education, he is a graduate of the Institute for Engaging Leaders in Friends Schools... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
M3/M5 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 3

3:15pm EDT

Workshop 3B: Friends Education for Our Most Complex Learners

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

Rudin Lab (Near Library Entrance)

Seeing the Inner Light in every child takes on extra significance for complex learners such as those with learning differences. Merging Quaker values with well-trained expertise in understanding and teaching these complex learners is often life-changing. In this session, we’ll start by looking at how to recognize and appreciate learning challenges, including those you might see in...
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Speakers

Lori Boccuzzi

Assistant Head for Enrollment Management and Institutional Advancement, The Quaker School at Horsham

Lori Boccuzzi, she/her
Lori Boccuzzi is the Assistant Head for Enrollment Management and Institutional Advancement at The Quaker School at Horsham. This summer marks 10 years since Lori joined the team at TQS. Prior to TQS, Lori was the Director of Pathways to College at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High Sch... Read More →

Jim Miller

Director of Enrollment Management, Delaware Valley Friends School

Jim Miller, he/him
Jim Miller is the Director of Enrollment Management at Delaware Valley Friends School. In his 7 years at DVFriends School, Jim has also served as the Director of Upper School, and previously spent 15 years at Friends Select School, where he was Dean of Students... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
Rudin Lab (Near Library Entrance)

Workshop 3

3:15pm EDT

Workshop 3C: Faithful Inclusion: How Quaker Values and DEI Practices Can Work Together To Help Create A Beloved Community

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

This interactive workshop explores how Quaker values and DEI practices can work together to deepen and strengthen organizations, schools, faith communities, and civic spaces. Drawing on core Quaker testimonies, participants will examine how these principles offer both a moral foundation and practical strategies for DEI Departments to cultivate more inclusive and equitable spaces.Through...
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Speakers

Al Vernacchio

Assistant Director of the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Justice, and the Coordinator of Gender, Sexuality, and Consent Education, Friends Central

Al Vernacchio, he/him/his
Al Vernacchio, MSEd teaches at Friends' Central School in Wynnewood, PA. He is the Assistant Director of the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Justice, and the Coordinator of Gender, Sexuality, and Consent Education. In his role, Al helps community members deepen their understanding... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 3

3:15pm EDT

Workshop 3D: Transmitting Quaker Practices to New Colleagues

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

M11/13 (Middle School Hallway)

Speakers

Drew Smith

Executive Director, Friends Council on Education

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
M11/13 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 3

3:15pm EDT

Workshop 3E: The Digital Meetinghouse: Student Journalism as a Catalyst for Civil Discourse

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

M1 (Middle School Hallway)

In an era of political polarization, Quaker schools face the challenge of maintaining a cohesive community while honoring the Light in each individual. This session invites Quaker educators to consider the role of student journalism as a vital “public square” for institutional health. Using Abington Friends School’s student newspaper, The Blue and White, as a case study, we will explore how...
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Speakers

Daniel Benjamin

Abington Friends

Daniel Benjamin, he/him/his
Daniel Benjamin teaches English at Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, PA. He is the advisor to the Blue and White, AFS's award-winning student news site. Daniel previously taught at the Baldwin School and Kehillah Jewish High School. He received his PhD in English and Critica... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
M1 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 3

3:15pm EDT

Workshop 3F: What is an Emotional Well-Being Program?

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

M12 (Middle School Hallway)

An Emotional Wellbeing Program is a set of attitudes and practices which support optimal personal and interpersonal functioning at the Friends Center.All staff participate in making this program work, through the way they develop the curriculum in their unique classroom, learn to support one another through the strenuous demands of high quality early childhood care, and engage with families in...
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Speakers

Miriam Sutton

Chief Operating Officer, Friends Center for Children

Miriam Sutton is Chief Operating Officer of Friends Center for Children in New Haven, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the institution’s three early care and education facilities.

Miriam has more than two decades of experience working with young children and families and first came to Friends Center as a parent. Her career at Friends Center began as an Emotional Well-Being coordinator responsible for providing individualized services to families and teachers... Read More →

Mara Schick

Friends Center for Children

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
M12 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 3

3:15pm EDT

Workshop 3G: Separating the Wheat from the Chaff (Threshing Protocol)

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

M7 (Middle School Hallway)

Goals for Today-Exploring Quaker Protocols-ThreshingTo deepen Quaker practices in our teaching and learning, and in how we engage with one another as a community. Engaging in a Quaker Protocol as a community is one way we can serve that goal. What is "Threshing"?"Threshing" means separating the "wheat from the chaff" and working toward collective discernment of a way forward. Quakers use...
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Speakers

Keisha Hutchins Hirlinger

LS Music Teacher - (7), Abington Friends

Keisha Hutchins Hirlinger
A classically trained musician at the Oberlin Conservatory as well as a singer-songwriter and educator, Keisha is passionate about music education and creating access to musical experiences for all children and communities. In addition to teaching music at Abington Friends School... Read More →

Peter Thobaben

Abington Friends

Peter Thobaben, He/Him
Peter Thobaben is a multidisciplinary educator, artist, and coach dedicated to fostering creativity and personal growth in students. A graduate of the University of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration and a Master’s in Art Education, Peter brings a rich background in fine arts... Read More →

Thursday July 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
M7 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 3

4:15pm EDT

Break

Thursday July 9, 2026 4:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Break

4:30pm EDT

MFW - Experience of Different Examples

Thursday July 9, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm EDT

Multiple Locations (see description for details)

Meeting for Art making
Clerk: Kathleen Geier
Location: M3/5

Worship Walk
Clerks: Diane, Erin and Mary Kay from AFS -
Location: Meet in M7, then go outside

Meeting for Singing
Clerk: Rich Nourie
Location: Camp Tent (to be confirmed)

Meeting for Worship
Clerk: TBD
Location: Abington Monthly Meeting

Meeting for Story (Faith & Play)
Clerk: Melinda Wenner Bradley
Location: Rudin Lab

Thursday July 9, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm EDT
Multiple Locations (see description for details)

MFW

5:30pm EDT

Day 2 Closing & Announcements

Thursday July 9, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT

Abington Monthly Meeting

Thursday July 9, 2026 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Abington Monthly Meeting

General Session

6:30pm EDT

Optional Outdoor Concert

Thursday July 9, 2026 6:30pm - 8:30pm EDT

Abington Art Center

Thursday July 9, 2026 6:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
Abington Art Center

8:00am EDT

Morning Gathering & Announcements

Friday July 10, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT

Muller Auditorium

Friday July 10, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT
Muller Auditorium

General Session

8:30am EDT

Workshop 4A: Outliers, Outlaws, Outcasts: Storytelling Beyond the Hero's Journey

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

M12 (Middle School Hallway)

This workshop introduces the combined lens of “Outliers, Outlaws, and Outcasts”, through which the stories we hear (and ones we tell ourselves) have aspects of leadership, defiance, and failure rather than demarcations of winning and losing by heroes and villains, or pitting “us” against “them.” Participants leave with a greater awareness of their own growth as leaders, along with...
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Speakers

Cara Shaw

Mary McDowell Friends School

Cara Shaw is a visionary leader and innovative educator who collaborates in community to develop frameworks for change. As a seventh-year upper school English teacher at Mary McDowell Friends School, she fosters student-led, inquiry-based learning by incorporating contemporary culture... Read More →

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
M12 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 4

8:30am EDT

Workshop 4B: What Makes a Quaker School? Evaluating Ethos in the UK and US

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

M3/M5 (Middle School Hallway)

This interactive session explores two approaches to evaluating Quaker identity in schools: the structured, evidence‑based American Friends Council on Education model and the invitational, narrative‑rich UK Ethos Evaluation approach. Drawing on Ackworth School’s recent Quaker Ethos Report, participants will compare how each model captures the lived experience of Quaker values. Through...
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Speakers

Elizabeth Bowey

Deputy Head Curriculum, Ackworth School

Elizabeth Bowey, she/her
Elizabeth is Deputy Head Curriculum at Ackworth School in Yorkshire, England. Her background is in teaching art, but as her career progressed she developed a passion for teacher development, inclusive learning and curriculum design. Elizabeth can track her Quaker family roots bac... Read More →

Rodney Glasgow

Associate Director, Friends Council on Education

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
M3/M5 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 4

8:30am EDT

Workshop 4C: Living the Testimonies: Making Quaker Values Visible in the Lower School

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

M12 (Middle School Hallway)

In the Lower School at Wilmington Friends School, students explore one Quaker testimony each month through developmentally appropriate, experiential learning. Using queries, music, shared readings, and collaborative projects, students reflect on how these values show up in their daily lives and relationships. Learning culminates in student-created artifacts that are shared throughout the school,...
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Speakers

Katie Martinenza

Lower School Performing Arts teacher and Quaker Life Clerk, Wilmington Friends

Katie Martinenza, she/her
Katie Martinenza is the Lower School Performing Arts teacher and Quaker Life Clerk at Wilmington Friends School. A practicing Quaker and graduate of the school’s Class of 1999, she brings a deep commitment to Quaker values, community-building, and arts education to her work with c... Read More →

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
M12 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 4

8:30am EDT

Workshop 4D: Teaching the Soul in the Age of Meta

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

Speakers

Polly Duke

Head, World Languages & Cultures Dept., Friends Academy

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
M8/10 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 4

8:30am EDT

Workshop 4E: Teaching Equality and Equity in the Younger Grades: Courageous conversations rooted in our Quaker SPICES with our youngest learners.

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Rudin Lab (Near Library Entrance)

Do our classrooms reflect courageous conversations rooted in our Quaker SPICES with our youngest learners? In this workshop, participants will engage in “hard” topics such as race, racism, ethnicity, and identity and explore how to incorporate these truth-centered conversations into our Quaker curriculums and practices. Rooted in Quaker principles of equity and honoring the Inner Light in...
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Speakers

Gabby Deveaux

Second Grade Teacher, Greene Street Friends

Gabby Deveaux, she/her/hers
Gabby Deveaux is a second grade teacher at Greene Street Friends School in Philadelphia, PA. She is a teacher, mother, educational consultant and trained doula. She has been a Quaker educator for the past six years. Previously, she served as a Special Education Teacher and Instruct... Read More →

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Rudin Lab (Near Library Entrance)

Workshop 4

8:30am EDT

Workshop 4F: Separating the Wheat from the Chaff (Threshing Protocol)

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

M11/13 (Middle School Hallway)

Speakers

Keisha Hutchins Hirlinger

LS Music Teacher - (7), Abington Friends

Peter Thobaben

Abington Friends

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
M11/13 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 4

8:30am EDT

Workshop 4G: Teaching In Resonance

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

M7 (Middle School Hallway)

Speakers

Devra Ramsey

Germantown Friends

Bob Wein

Germantown Friends

Friday July 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
M7 (Middle School Hallway)

Workshop 4

9:30am EDT

Break

Friday July 10, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am EDT

Break

10:00am EDT

Keynote Address - Allyx Schiavone, Chief Executive Officer of Friends Center for Children

Friday July 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am EDT

Muller Auditorium

Friday July 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Muller Auditorium

General Session

11:45am EDT

Worship Sharing & Closing Circle

Friday July 10, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT

Outside (Rain Plan: Faulkner Library)

Friday July 10, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Outside (Rain Plan: Faulkner Library)

General Session

12:45pm EDT

Boxed Lunch Pickup

Friday July 10, 2026 12:45pm - 1:00pm EDT

Muller Lobby

Friday July 10, 2026 12:45pm - 1:00pm EDT
Muller Lobby

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