Fostering Empathy, Agency, and Excellence Brooklyn Friends’ Educational Approach
Fostering Empathy, Agency, and Excellence Brooklyn Friends’ Educational Approach
Brooklyn Friends Schools head Crissy Cáceres explains how the institution’s pedagogy blends Quaker values, rigorous academic and social-emotional learning to prepare students for a complex world. In a recent conversation with local media, Crissy Cáceres described an educational model centered on inquiry, collaboration and reflective practice that informs curriculum from early childhood through secondary grades.
Under her leadership, Brooklyn Friends School has prioritized student-centered instruction and project-based learning, allowing learners to engage deeply with real-world problems. Teachers serve as facilitators, designing interdisciplinary units that encourage critical thinking and sustained investigation. Assessment strategies emphasize growth and mastery, with narrative feedback and portfolios complementing traditional measures.
Community and equity are central to the school’s approach. Cáceres highlights the Quaker testimonies of integrity and community as guiding principles that shape classroom culture and school governance. Initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion aim to create an environment where multiple perspectives are honored and students develop civic literacy and empathy.
Professional development for faculty is another pillar of the pedagogy. Brooklyn Friends invests in ongoing training on culturally responsive teaching, restorative practices and trauma-informed approaches to ensure educators can meet diverse learner needs. Technology is integrated thoughtfully, used as a tool to enhance collaboration and research rather than replace human-centered instruction.
Crucially, the school emphasizes social-emotional competencies awareness, resilience and cooperative problem solving alongside academic benchmarks. Early childhood programs focus on play-based exploration; middle and upper school curricula expand opportunities for student agency through leadership projects and community engagement.
Education under Crissy Cáceres’ stewardship positions Brooklyn Friends Schools to balance tradition with innovation, aiming to cultivate independent thinkers who are ethically grounded and prepared for civic participation. As public expectations for schooling evolve, the school’s pedagogical framework seeks to model how values-driven education can meet contemporary challenges. Read this article for additional information.
More about Crissy Cáceres on https://futureofdiversity.gds.org/design-facilitation-committee/crissy-caceres/