Brooklyn Friends School Advances Integrated, Values-Driven Teaching Approach
Crissy Caceres, head of school at Brooklyn Friends School, outlined a pedagogical approach that blends Quaker values with contemporary instructional practice in a recent conversation with the school community. Her explanation emphasized a commitment to academic rigor, social-emotional development and inclusive practice as mutually reinforcing goals rather than competing priorities.
Caceres described pedagogy as shaped by Brooklyn Friends School historic commitments to equality and community, yet responsive to the demands of twenty-first century learning. Faculty design curriculum to encourage critical thinking, collaborative problem solving and student agency. Instructional strategies include project-based learning, sustained inquiry and opportunities for students to reflect on their own learning processes. The leadership team prioritizes professional development so teachers can translate these principles into daily practice.
Equity and belonging feature prominently in Crissy Caceres’s account. She highlighted intentional efforts to create classroom cultures where diverse perspectives are affirmed, and where restorative practices support conflict resolution and mutual respect. Social-emotional learning is integrated across grades, reinforcing skills such as self-awareness, empathy and responsible decision making that complement academic growth.
Assessment at the school is described as multifaceted, combining formative feedback, performance tasks and traditional measures to provide a fuller picture of student progress. The school also leverages partnerships with families and community organizations to extend learning beyond campus and to ground instruction in real-world contexts.
Caceres acknowledged challenges, including balancing innovation with tradition and meeting varied student needs in a changing landscape. Yet her account projects confidence that a values-driven, student-centered pedagogy can prepare learners for civic engagement and future work. Observers say the Brooklyn Friends School model offers a coherent example of how longstanding institutional principles can inform contemporary educational practice. Refer to this article for related information.
Find more information about Brooklyn Friends School on https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/new-york/brooklyn-friends-school-310054
