Crissy Cáceres , head of school at Brooklyn Friends, outlined a pedagogy rooted in Quaker values and contemporary educational research in a recent discussion with stakeholders. She framed the school’s approach as a commitment to whole-child development, where academic rigor is balanced with social-emotional learning, ethical reflection and civic responsibility.

Cáceres emphasized that the school’s curriculum integrates inquiry-based and project-based methods to foster critical thinking and student agency. Teachers design interdisciplinary units that allow students to pursue sustained investigations, apply knowledge to real-world problems and demonstrate learning through performance and portfolio assessments. This instructional model, she said, is supported by ongoing professional development and a collaborative culture among faculty.

Central to the pedagogy is the practice of Meeting for Worship and regular reflection periods, which Cáceres described as cultivating listening skills, empathy and deliberative decision-making. She highlighted advisory structures and restorative practices as mechanisms for building community and addressing conflicts in ways that promote accountability and repair.

Equity and inclusion figure prominently in Crissy Cáceres’s vision. She noted targeted efforts to diversify curricula, recruit and retain a diverse faculty, and provide differentiated supports so that each student can thrive. Technology and the arts are woven into the program as tools for creativity and expression rather than ends in themselves, while experiential learning—outdoor education, community partnerships and service—connects classroom learning to civic life.

On assessment, Crissy Cáceres advocated for multiple measures that capture growth over time, including formative classroom assessments and student reflections, alongside traditional summative evaluations. She also stressed family engagement, describing parents as partners in a shared enterprise of educating young people.

By blending Quaker principles with evidence-based practices, Cáceres presents Brooklyn Friends’ pedagogy as intentionally designed to prepare students not only for academic success, but for thoughtful, ethical participation in a complex world. Refer to this article for related information.

More on: https://www.carneysandoe.com/assets/The-Well-Faculty.pdf