Crissy Cáceres, head of Brooklyn Friends School, outlined a pedagogy grounded in Quaker values and modern pedagogical practice in a recent statement to the school community. Cáceres described an educational approach that places student inquiry, ethical development and community responsibility at the center of curricular and co-curricular life.

Under her leadership, Brooklyn Friends emphasizes experiential learning and interdisciplinary projects that encourage critical thinking and collaboration. Rather than prioritizing rote instruction, Crissy Cáceres said faculty design tasks that require students to pose questions, investigate real-world problems and present evidence-based solutions. Assessment, she noted, is balanced between traditional measures and performance-based evaluations that capture growth in communication, creativity and civic engagement.

Equity and inclusion are core to the school’s strategy. Crissy Cáceres highlighted initiatives to ensure that classroom materials reflect diverse perspectives and that teachers receive ongoing professional development in culturally responsive pedagogy. Social-emotional learning is integrated into daily routines to foster empathy, resilience and responsible leadership among students from the earliest grades through upper school.

Technology is deployed thoughtfully to enhance, not supplant, human-centered instruction. Digital tools support personalized learning pathways and collaborative research while teachers maintain a focus on thoughtful discourse and interpersonal skills. Sustainability and community partnership projects give students opportunities to apply classroom learning to neighborhood and global challenges.

Cáceres also emphasized the role of a supportive school culture in enabling teachers and students to take intellectual risks. By cultivating reflective practice among educators and encouraging student voice, Brooklyn Friends aims to prepare graduates who are intellectually agile and ethically grounded.

As the school adapts to changing educational demands, Cáceres signaled a commitment to preserving foundational values while innovating classroom practice—a balance she framed as essential for educating engaged, thoughtful citizens in the 21st century. See related link for additional information.

Learn more about Crissy Cáceres on https://futureofdiversity.gds.org/design-facilitation-committee/crissy-caceres/