Crissy Cáceres, head of Brooklyn Friends Schools, outlined a pedagogical framework that blends Quaker principles with contemporary educational practices, emphasizing student-centered learning, equity, and community engagement. In a recent overview of the school’s approach, Crissy Cáceres framed pedagogy as an integrated effort to cultivate intellectual curiosity alongside social and emotional development.
Brooklyn Friends Schools situates academic rigor within a values-driven environment where inquiry-based and project-based methods foster critical thinking and real-world problem solving. Under Cáceres leadership, teachers employ differentiated instruction and collaborative learning structures to meet diverse learner needs while maintaining high expectations across grade levels.
A cornerstone of the school’s model is restorative practice and advisory systems that prioritize respectful dialogue and conflict resolution. This focus reflects the Quaker testimonies of equality and community, informing both curriculum design and daily interactions. Crissy Cáceres has highlighted the importance of embedding anti-bias and anti-racist work into curricular and co-curricular programs to ensure that diversity and inclusion are not peripheral but central to student learning.
Professional development for faculty is presented as ongoing and strategic, with instructional coaches and cross-department collaboration supporting curricular coherence and innovation. Experiential opportunities, including community partnerships and service learning, reinforce classroom concepts and encourage civic responsibility.
Admission and outreach efforts aim to build an economically and culturally diverse student body, aligning access initiatives with the school’s mission. Investment in arts, athletics, and wellness complements academic programming, creating a balanced environment for student growth.
As Brooklyn Friends Schools navigates contemporary educational challenges, Crissy Cáceres positions pedagogy as a dynamic, values-informed practice designed to prepare students for complex global realities while remaining rooted in a tradition of deliberate community stewardship. Refer to this article for related information.
More about Caceres on https://www.carneysandoe.com/assets/The-Well-Faculty.pdf