Faculty/Staff

Rose Hagan Rose Hagan was appointed head of Friends Select School in July 1995. Major projects completed during Rose’s tenure to date include completion of a successful capital campaign; a $2.5 million reconstruction of the school’s roof and the rooftop athletic surface; creation of a lower school library and science room; creation of a middle school science wing; renovation of the kitchen and dining facilities; and installation of an elevator in the building. Under her leadership, the school has established a Mandarin Chinese language program, an ESL program, and a crew program, among other initiatives. In 1997, Rose began the Friends Select/Joseph Fox Bookshop Author Series. This outstanding series of book events has brought more than 100 nationally celebrated writers to Friends Select, including Alice Walker, Al Gore, Anita Desai, Robert Caro and David Halberstam. Rose was a founding member and is currently the treasurer of the Parkway Council Foundation, a group consisting of the leaders of the institutions lining the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. She is a member of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) and is president of the PAIS Commission on Accreditation. Rose also is a member of the board of trustees of the Charter School of Architecture and Design (CHAD), of the Friends Council on Education (FCE) and of the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS). Rose brought extensive academic experience to Friends Select. She served for nine years as principal at Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans. From 1978 to 1987, she was dean of studies and assistant head of school at Mary Institute in St. Louis. Rose earned a bachelor of arts in English from Temple University and a master of arts in English from Southern Illinois University. A Philadelphia native, Rose lives in the Logan Square neighborhood in Center City.

Faculty and Staff Biographies

Rae Asbridge
Rae joined the physical education department in 2002, where she is assistant to the athletic director, aquatics director, and a teacher. Rae earned her undergraduate degree from James Madison University, where she was a scholarship athlete and captain of the women’s swim team. She later earned a master of arts degree in exercise physiology from the University of Alabama. She has taught physical education at several schools, most recently for three years in the Ballston Spa Central School District in New York State, where she coached swimming and diving. Rae also served as assistant coach for the men’s and women’s swimming teams at Union College.

Anita Bailey
Anita is the assistant director of admission for recruitment. She previously served as coordinator of student services in the College of Engineering at Temple University. Anita earned a bachelor’s degree from Drexel University. She joined the Friends Select staff in 1996.

Chris Barker
Chris joined Friends Select in 2000 to teach art in upper school. Chris earned a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Delaware and a master of fine arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He teaches drawing, painting and photography, and is head coach of the boys' varsity soccer team.

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Laura Bellet
Before being named manager of publications at Friends Select in 2004, Laura worked as an independent consultant for a wide range of clients, including banks, insurance companies, grocery chains, electric utilities and universities. She produced publications that ranged from brochures and newsletters, to annual reports and video scripts. She also coached University of Pennsylvania students on writing and presentation skills. Laura holds a bachelor's degree from Tufts University and a master's in business administration from Drexel University. A New York native, she spent several years as a magazine editor with McCall’sand Ladies’ Home Journal. She currently serves as the president of the board of directors of Youth Service, Inc., a non-profit social service agency.

Craig Bierman
Craig, the director of parent programs, joined Friends Select in 2004. In addition, he is an assistant teacher for third grade math and reading. A transplant from New York City, Craig previously worked as an account executive in the film and video industry. Before settling in Philadelphia, he switched gears and began working for a national non-profit organization, where he coordinated workforce conferences and training workshops across the U.S. In his spare time, Craig provides child care for a three-year-old girl and also offers tutoring in French to middle schoolers.

Kellie Bowker
Kellie teaches prekindergarten. She came to Friends Select School in 2006, after having taught at Lansdowne Friends. Kellie has a degree in music history from Temple University, and has taught music for many years, most recently as assistant music director at Chester Children's Chorus. She has two daughters, Kayla and Kiara. The family spends its free time biking, baking and playing with their two dogs.

Douglas Brophy
Doug is the assistant head of school for academic affairs, as well as the director of the upper school.  He also is a member of the history department.  Doug previously served as the school's English as a Second Language director, Summer Academic Program director, and as an upper school grade dean.  He also was faculty advisor to the Multi-Cultural Student Union and the Student Advisory Council.  Before coming to Friends Select, Doug served as curriculum coordinator for a West Philadelphia middle school, taught language arts and history in Palo Alto, Calif., and directed an Atlanta-based English language program for Jewish immigrants.  From 1989-1997, he practiced law in Atlanta, Ga. Doug earned a bachelor of arts and a law degree from Tulane University, a master of arts in education from Stanford University, and a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania.  Outside of school, Doug enjoys backpacking, mountain biking, and running.

Jim Brubaker
Jim teaches physics, astronomy, electronics and computer science in the upper school. He is also the chair of the science department and director of technology for Friends Select. He earned a bachelor's degree at Messiah College and a master's degree at Temple University. Jim joined the faculty in 1981.


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Paula Cairo
Paula is the librarian for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. She has taught at Friends Select since 1985. Paula has a master's degree in English from Temple University. She has done postgraduate study at the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College in Vermont, and also at Temple University. A lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, Paula lives in Ambler, Pa.


Kendall Cameron
Kendall Cameron, dean of upper school, joined Friends Select School in 2004. Kendall holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from Denison University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Pepperdine University. Before coming to Friends Select, she held a variety of teaching and administrative posts at Brentwood School in Los Angeles, including middle school director, science teacher, varsity soccer coach and grade dean. Kendall grew up in Asbury Park, N.J., and spent her summers on the Chesapeake Bay in Md. She enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, her two greyhounds, Fig and Clackers, and her cats. Kendall also likes to cook, play the guitar, and volunteer at West Nottingham Academy and Equality Forum.

Angela Canales '88
Angela works part time at Friends Select School, where she teaches two sections of Spanish II. She earned her bachelor's degree in English at Ithaca College. Angela returned to the United States in 2004 after living eight years in Bogotá, Colombia, working as an international baccalaurate English teacher. When she is not marking papers, Angela tutors adults in ESL at the Delaware County Literacy Council.

Dan Capecchi
Dan leads the middle school percussion ensemble at Friends Select and also offers private lessons at the school. In 2002, Dan moved to Philadelphia to study contemporary drumming. A percussionist, composer, and teacher, he still lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two year old son. Dan earned his bachelor's degree at Macalester College and his master's degree at University of the Arts. A working musician, he became a member of Pete Robbin's Centric, Minas, Jeff Baumeister Quartet, and Shot X Shot, whose 2006 debut on High Two was hailed as "representing a meaningful step forward in jazz's evolution" by WNUR in Chicago, and was listed as one of the best debut albums in 2006 by Village Voice. Dan has been at the school since 2004.

Drew Cardinale
Drew came to Friends Select in 2000 to teach Spanish and Latin in the upper and middle schools. Drew previously taught at Brooklyn Friends School in New York and at Delbarton School in New Jersey. In addition to his rich linguistic background, Drew also has a background in theater and choral music. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Muhlenberg College and a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


Sherry Claypool
Sherry is the director of admission programs. Sherry has had many roles since she joined Friends Select in 1981. For many years, she served as the school nurse. She also has been director of major gifts, director of parent programs, and interim head of the upper school. She graduated from the Oil City School of Nursing and attended St. Joseph's University. In her spare time, Sherry enjoys restoring old houses and barns. All four of Sherry's children graduated from Friends Select: Chris '89, Stephanie '90, Alex '95, and Rebecca '97.

Judith Clever
Judy was named the director of continuing programs in 2003. Previously, she was a lower school assistant teacher at Friends Select. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University, studied French at the University of Grenoble and did master’s work at Temple University. Before joining the Friends Select faculty in 1998, Judy taught English at the Phil-Mont Christian Academy.

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Karen Cohen
Karen joined Friends Select in 2001 and currently teaches fifth grade. Previously, she taught for five years at the Hurlbutt Elementary School. Before entering the teaching profession, Karen spent a number of years working in health and human services. She earned a bachelor's degree from Boston University, a master of arts from Sacred Heart University and a master's in public health from Yale University.

John Colgan-Davis
John teaches humanities and history in the middle school. A graduate of Antioch College, John has been a teacher at Friends Select since 1986. In a speech at Friends Select’s graduation ceremony in 1995, John was described by one of his former students as the teacher who "made history fun. It was plain to see that he was interested in what he was teaching, and that interest carried over to me." John has written extensively about African-American history, including several Black History Month supplements in the Philadelphia Inquirer. In his little spare time, John plays in the popular Philadelphia blues band, The Dukes of Destiny.

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Dan Deslaurier
Dan is the lower school visual arts teacher. He has taught visual arts in both the Radnor and Lower Merion Township school districts, the Baldwin and Agnes Irwin Schools, and is a member of both the National and Pennsylvania Art Education Associations. Dan earned his Pennsylvania state certification and master's degree in teaching visual arts to children from University of the Arts. He also is a member of the Guild of American Papercutters.


Roger Dillow
Before becoming director of admission in 2006, Roger had more than 30 years of experience as an independent school teacher, coach, administrator, and consultant. He also worked as a teacher/trainer in adult graduate and post-graduate human service programs, and as a mental health clinician (with a specialty in family therapy). Among the organizations with which Roger had previous affiliations: Independent School Management, Princeton Day School, The Peddie School, and Princeton Family Center for Education. Roger has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from The College of William and Mary and Syracuse University, respectively, and a master’s of social work from Rutgers University.

Tina Dougherty
Art director Tina Dougherty joined Friends Select in 2001. Tina oversees the graphic design of all schoolwide print and electronic materials. She was the art director for Graphic News, Inc. for 13 years. She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from University of the Arts and studied Web development at Berkeley.

Heather Fortune
Heather joined the faculty in 2006 as music teacher for middle and upper school. She conducts the upper school ensemble, the middle school orchestra and teaches general music in the middle school. Additionally, she coordinates the after school music lesson program, and serves as a sixth grade advisor. Heather is also a freelance flutist, performing with many area ensembles, including the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and her flute and harp duo, Bella. Prior to teaching at Friends Select, she taught in Philadelphia public schools as a teaching artist for the Philadelphia Orchestra. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in performance from Boston University School of Fine Arts.


Jesse Freedman
Jesse Freedman, upper school history teacher and director of the Friends Select School International Studies Program, joined Friends Select in 2003. In addition to European history, Jesse offers electives in the literary history of Paris and Great Britain. He holds a bachelor's degree from Amherst College, and recently completed a master's degree in history at Oxford University, where his research focused on the Succession Crisis of 1553.

Ellen Gershman
Ellen is the admission assistant for data management in the admission office at Friends Select, where she has been since 2003. A self-described "Microsoft wiz," Ellen worked 23 years in the insurance industry before coming to the school, where she jokes that she finally gets to use her Temple University bachelor of science degree in early education. A lifelong Philadelphian, Ellen is an avid Phillies fan.

Jenn Gorzelany
Jenn Gorzelany, upper school English teacher and grade 12 dean, joined Friends Select School in 2004. Jenn holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature from Hamilton College, and two master's degrees: the first in education at Harvard University, and a second in writing from Northeastern University’s Institute of Writing, Reading and Teaching. In addition to her classroom duties, Jenn is faculty advisor to the student newspaper, the Falcon, and teaches school-sponsored SAT-preparatory classes. When off duty, Jenn enjoys writing, traveling and serving on the reunion and alumnae committees of Miss Porter’s School of Farmington, Connecticut.

Natan Gottesman
Natan joined Friends Select School in 2007, as the school's first full time psychologist. In this role, serving as an integral member of the guidance team, Natan is available to provide support and direction to individual students in all divisions of the school. He also works closely with teachers and administrators, as needed, on strategies for working on issues that may be of concern to a particular class, grade, division, or the entire school community. Natan has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Hunter College, and master's and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and child development from the University of Minnesota. He has worked in a variety of school settings, most recently as the director of clinical services at Hill Top Preparatory School. Natan came to Friends Select from Jewish Employment and Vocational Services in Philadelphia, where he served three years as executive director of work and recovery programs. Coming to Friends Select represents a return to the work he loves best.

Andrew Goutman
Andrew, who formerly worked in journalism and advertising sales, joined Friends Select School in 2001. As the school's information and administrative projects specialist, he is a familiar face at the back desk in the morning and at the front desk in the afternoon following dismissal. When not in school, he writes for trade association publications.

Lynda Greenwade
Lynda returned to Friends Select as an art teacher in the upper school in 1997. Lynda was head of the Friends Select art department from 1975 to 1980. She is an experienced silversmith and jewelry maker whose work has been exhibited and sold in more than 20 galleries. Lynda earned a bachelor of fine arts and a master of fine arts from the Tyler School of Art.

Sandy Guild
Sandy joined Friends Select as director of libraries and academic technology in September 2006. She formerly worked at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, where she was a middle and upper school librarian for six years. She has served as an adjunct professor at Drexel University’s School of Library and Information Science, a lower and middle school librarian at United Friends School and a reference intern at Van Pelt Library of the University of Pennsylvania. Sandy earned bachelor's and master's degrees in English literature, both from the University of Pennsylvania, and master's degree in library science from Drexel University.


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Celeste Hanlon
Celeste Hanlon, kindergarten assistant teacher, came to the lower school in 2003 as an assistant in pre-kindergarten.  During the summer, Celeste teaches multimedia art to young children at Fleisher Memorial Art School. Her degrees include an master's of fine arts in sculpture from San Francisco Art Institute and a bachelor of fine arts from the Museum School of Fine Arts at Tufts University.  Celeste also is the parent of Friends Select fourth grader Brendan. 

Maureen Haurin
Maureen Haurin joined Friends Select in 2004. She is the library assistant at the Ruth Hallowell Gray Library and she teaches middle school research and technology. Maureen received a master’s degree in library science from Drexel University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Temple University. She is the parent of a Friends Select student.

Jane Hinkle
Jane Hinkle teaches fourth grade.  She joined the Friends Select faculty in 2005 as a third grade teacher.  Jane received a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania.  She previously taught fourth and fifth grades at The Philadelphia School.

Dick Hoffman
Dick Hoffman, a much-loved figure at Friends Select, has been at the school in one capacity or another since 1963. Currently he serves as a part-time archivist, a position created for him when he retired after 36 years of service. To prepare for his new role, he took the three-course sequence in archives and manuscripts in the graduate department of history at Temple University. Dick started out as a teacher of eighth and 11th grade history. Over the next four decades, he worked in a variety of administrative posts, including director of junior high, associate headmaster, and college counselor, while always teaching at least one class in history or social studies. In his off hours, Dick is bookkeeper for “All About Philadelphia Tours,” a business owned by his wife, Susan Kellogg. Dick is usually at the school on Mondays and Fridays. He is always on the lookout for school artifacts and memorabilia and would love to hear from alumni/ae. 

Galen Horst-Martz
Galen Horst-Martz joined Friends Select in 2002 as the community service coordinator and religious thought teacher. From 1990 to 2002, Galen was executive director of the Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust, managing three historical sites in Germantown. Prior to that, he taught religion and world history at Eastern Mennonite High School in Virginia. Galen earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite University and a master of arts in teaching from James Madison University. He has also been an NEH Summer Fellow at Princeton University in Islamic studies, and continues on boards of various peace and community service organizations.

Brian Hueber 
Brian holds a bachelor's degree in history from Millersville University and a master's degree in elementary education from Holy Family University. He previously taught public school in Abington, Pa., Philadelphia, and Audubon, N.J. He also taught third and fourth grades for seven years at Haddonfield Friends School and Mullica Hill Friends School. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, Brian enjoys playing various sports including golf, kayaking, and frisbee. He is married, with two sons.

Rosemarie Jagielo
Rosemarie is the development office assistant. She joined Friends Select in 1985.

Christine Jefferson
Christine Jefferson joined Friends Select as director of development in 2002. She has an extensive background in fund raising, most recently as director of development of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation. Christine has also worked for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the James A. Michener Art Museum. She is a graduate of Gettysburg College and currently serves on the board of the Greene Towne School.

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Lorrie Jones
Lorrie joined Friends Select School in December 2006 as an assistant teacher in prekindergarten. Before this, she worked for three years as a public school teacher in Philadelphia, teaching kindergarten and Head Start. During summers and other time spent away from Friends Select, Lorrie is an environmental educator who, when not teaching, can generally be found outdoors hugging trees. She holds a bachelor's degree in geography and urban studies from Temple University and earned a master's degree in elementary education at Arcadia University.

Lynde Judson

Lynde, middle and upper school math teacher, graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Haverford College and now teaches geometry and algebra in the upper school. Lynde joined the Friends Select faculty in 2005.

Terry Kessel
Terry is director of the middle school and chair of the religious thought department. She served as dean of middle school beginning in 1998 and, before that, was parent programs coordinator. She also student- and substitute-taught at the school. Terry earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College, a master of arts degree from the University of Hawaii, and a master of education from Beaver College. For a number of years, Terry worked at Women Organized Against Rape.

Debi Kern
Debi is the lower school learning specialist. She has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher. Before coming to Friends Select School in 2007, Debi most recently was the learning specialist at Friends Academy in New York state, and The Atlanta International School. She has taught kindergarten to third grade in various other locations, including Germany, England, Texas, and South Carolina. Debi earned a bachelo'rs degree in special education and elementary education at Slippery Rock University and has a master's equivalency in reading from Pennsylvania State University. She enjoys spending time with her family, collecting antiques, baking, traveling and of course, reading.

Bill Klose
Bill teaches physical education in lower, middle and upper school, and is the certified athletic trainer for all middle and upper school sports. Bill has a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from Temple University, and a master of science degree in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania. He is certified as a strength and conditioning specialist and a performance enhancement specialist, the latter through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Bill, who joined the school in 2006, is the parent of a Friends Select student.

Fred Kogan
Fred teaches art in the middle school. He came to Friends Select in 2001 as an assistant teacher in pre-kindergarten after two years as an assistant teacher at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York. Fred earned a bachelor's degree from Kent State University and completed a teacher certification program at Parsons School of Design/Bank Street College of Education.

Chrissy Kopp
Chrissy Kopp, who teaches U.S. and European history, joined the upper school faculty in 2006. Before arriving at FSS, she taught history at Phillips Academy in Andover and at Boston University. She received her bachelor's degree in history and music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a Ph.D. in history from Boston University. Her primary academic interests are United States cultural and political history. When not exploring the past, Chrissy enjoys writing, playing the piano, and spending time with her husband and cats.


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Betsy Lamitina
Betsy is a fourth grade teacher who joined Friends Select in 2006. She previously taught at The University School of Nashville, where she worked as a fourth grade teacher for four years. Betsy received her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Emory University and taught in the Atlanta area for seven years following graduation. She taught for a year at The Friends School of Atlanta and was excited to be returning to Quaker education here in Philadelphia. She enjoys sailing in the summer off of Cape Cod with her family and loves to read during her free time.

Stuart Land
Stuart is the director of alumni/ae programs. Stuart joined Friends Select in 1981 as a third grade teacher. He served as director of admission from 1987 to 2006. Stuart earned a bachelor's degree from New York University and a master's in education from Harvard University.

Robin Landis
Robin, kindergarten teacher, joined the lower school faculty at Friends Select in 2002. Robin earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Chestnut Hill College. She taught for three years at the Willow Hill Elementary School in the Abington School District and, prior to that, at the Springside School.

Rachel Lee
Rachel is the manager of the student bookstore and school receptionist, positions she has held since 1990. She also assists in the After School Program, where she used to lead arts and crafts activities. Rachel is a crafts artist, and the mother of Yetunde Pinckney '95, a four-time published author.

Pat Liczbinski
Pat is the accounts administrator in the business office. Before joining Friends Select in 1997, she was an accounts payable assistant at Fishman & Tobin, Inc.

Timothy Litz
Tim is the director of athletics and chair of the physical education department. He joined Friends Select in 2001 as a physical education teacher. He is a graduate of West Chester University with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and a master's degree in athletic administration. Tim has previously coached both the middle school and varsity wrestling teams at Friends Select and currently coaches the varsity baseball team. Prior to Friends Select, Tim was the sports director for the West Chester YMCA. He also has served as the manager of the Hatfield Athletic Club. 

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Jaime Lockwood

Jaime joined the upper school faculty at Friends Select in 2004. She teaches world history, U.S. history and a religious thought course entitled Peace and Social Justice: Beliefs into Action. She also is a co-sponsor of the school’s Model U.N. and is an assistant coach to the crew team. Before coming to Friends Select, Jaime worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as an aide to Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). She holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and a master’s degree in women’s history from Sarah Lawrence College. Her primary academic interests are gender and religious history. In her spare time, Jaime enjoys running, and rowing on the Schuylkill.

Norka Maldonado
Norka joined Friends Select as a Spanish teacher in 2002. She has taught both Spanish and ESL at schools in Lima, Peru, and recently served as foreign language department chair at Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis. Norka earned her undergraduate degree in Spanish and Women’s Studies from the University of Missouri, and her master’s in Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to upper school Spanish language and literature classes, Norka also teaches Spanish in the middle school.

Tracy Matthews
Tracy joined Friends Select in July 2002 as director of college counseling. She also serves as director of testing. Tracy earned an undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College, after which she worked for three years as an admissions officer at Princeton University. She then returned to school, completing a master’s degree at Syracuse University. Following a stint with a public relations firm in Washington, D.C., Tracy returned to education (and to her alma mater), spending the next eight years as associate and senior associate dean of admissions and coordinator of students of color recruitment at Swarthmore.

Natalie Mayer
Natalie Mayer joined Friends Select School in 2007 as the upper school biology teacher. She earned her undergraduate degree at University of Pennsylvania and her medical degree at Temple University School of Medicine. Her work background includes teaching biology at Hewitt School in New York City, working at the White House, and working for Sesame Street Production. Besides teaching science, Natalie particularly enjoys yoga, road biking and oil painting.

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Amy McCann
Amy, kindergarten teacher, joined Friends Select School in 2006. She earned her bachelor's degree at Haverford College and holds a master's degree in multicultural education from Eastern University. Before coming to Friends Select, Amy taught kindergarten and fourth grade in the Philadelphia public school system. She enjoys spending time with her family and her pets, and likes to cook, run, sail, read and travel.

Elizabeth Messec
Liz started at Friends Select School in 2003 as an after school teacher, before being named an assistant teacher in the pre-kindergarten program in December 2006. Liz earned a bachelor's degree of fine arts in printmaking, with a concentration in art education, at University of the Arts. She works also at the Lombard Swim Club where, in addition to her receptionist duties, she teaches a weekly mural arts class to children ages three and older. In her free time, Liz creates visual art in a variety of media.

Jim Miller
Jim Miller joined Friends Select in 2005. He teaches upper school English in the interdisciplinary sequence and acts as a 12th grade advisor. Jim graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in English, and received a master’s degree in English language and literature from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1994. He edited scholarly books and journals for several years, while teaching college writing courses and working on a college preparatory program for inner-city students in Washington, D.C. Before coming to Friends Select, he was a member of the English department for seven years at St. Paul’s School for Boys in Brooklandville, Maryland. Jim also is a mosaic artist who enjoys frisbee, hiking, biking, and playing with his young son.

Molly Mullahy
Molly is the head's office assistant and assistant to the director of the After School Program. Her dual positions allow her to work with faculty, staff, parents, students and visitors. This involvement with the larger community is what she values most about her time at the school. Molly joined Friends Select in 2002 after earning a bachelor's degree at Emerson College. Outside of work, Molly is a portrait artist, specializing in watercolors.

Diane Myslinski
Diane is the school nurse. She has worked at Kent General Hospital and Frankford Hospital and is certified in basic life support. She received her license from the Delaware State Board of Nursing and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Diane enjoys spending summers at the shore with her daughter, Alicia, working with stained glass, and refinishing old furniture. She joined the staff of Friends Select in 1999.

Dianna Newton
Dianna joined the Friends Select faculty in 1997 as a fifth grade teacher. Prior to that, she taught in the school's After School Program, served as the assistant director of the summer camp program, and was a teaching fellow at the Collegiate School in New York City.  During her time at Friends Select, she has taught fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades, with a primary focus in the humanities. She also has been a fifth, sixth and eighth grade advisor.  Currently, she teaches American literature to the seventh grade, world literature to the eighth grade, and is an eighth grade advisor.  Dianna earned a bachelor's degree at Temple University. 

Molly Patterson
Molly Patterson is Friends Select’s middle school and upper school learning specialist.  Before arriving at Friends Select, she worked at The Academy of Notre Dame de Nauru and the Crefeld School in the same capacity.  Molly also started The Learning Center at The Haverford School.  She earned her bachelor’s degree at Colgate University and her master’s and doctorate in reading, writing and literacy at The University of Pennsylvania.  Molly current is an adjunct faculty member at Cabrini College in the education graduate program.

Lindsay Pio
Lindsay joined Friends Select School in 2007 as assistant teacher in first grade. She earned a bachelor's degree in marketing and management at Tulane University and a master's degree in elementary education at University of Pennsylvania. When not at school, Lindsay enjoys cooking, exercising and traveling.

Amanda Pitt
Amanda Pitt joined Friends Select in 2005. Before coming to Friends Select, Amanda worked with children as an assistant pre-school teacher at The Miquon School, camp counselor at Camp Dark Waters and, more recently, as a classroom volunteer in Linda Patterson’s first grade class at Friends Select. Amanda holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of Pennsylvania.

Colleen Puckett
Colleen joined Friends Select in 2003 as director of marketing. Before working at Friends Select, she managed pharmaceutical promotions at GlaxoSmithKline, public relations programs for regional and national clients at several national healthcare advertising agencies, and media relations campaigns at Thomas Jefferson University. Active in her community, Colleen is past president of Queen Village Neighbors Association. She served on the Mayor’s Gaming Advisory Task Force in 2006 and is a board member of Philadelphia Forward. Colleen holds a bachelor’s degree in labor studies from Pennsylvania State University.

Christa Quint
Christa has been a faculty member at Friends Select School since 1987. She currently teaches science in middle school and environmental science in the upper school. In past years, she has served as middle school advisor and as the 7/8 teaching team leader. Christa currently coordinates the school’s Sustainability Committee. In that capacity, she participated in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Leadership Institute for Sustainability and in Philadelphia Green City Teacher in 2006. Prior to joining Friends Select, Christa worked as a research assistant in biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. Before moving to Philadelphia, she taught chemistry and biology in college preparatory schools in Germany. She holds an undergraduate degree in chemistry and biology from the Technical University Darmstadt and master's degrees in biology (Diplom-Biologin) and in biology and chemistry education from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.

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Stephen Rawls
Stephen has chaired the history department since 1999. He earned a bachelor of fine arts from Pratt Institute and a master of arts from St. John's College. Interested in cultural and intellectual history, Steve coordinates the interdisciplinary sequence (IDS) program in the upper school and advises the school newspaper. He enjoys reading and theater and regularly travels outside the US, including an NEH fellowship in Vienna and an extended study tour in China. Steve previously taught at Germantown Academy, the Shipley School, and Chestnut Hill Academy.

Penny Razler
Penny splits her time between the marketing, development and business offices in her role as an assistant. She joined the staff of Friends Select full time in 2000, after working part-time in a number of different capacities at the school. Her son, Anthony, is a 2006 graduate of Friends Select.

Christine Reardon
Christy joined the faculty at Friends Select School in 1997. She currently teaches Prima Lingua and math in sixth grade and serves as advisor for curriculum across grades pre-kindergarten through twelve. She also assists with grant writing in the school's development office. Christy has spent most of her life affiliated with various Quaker schools: she attended Lincoln School in Rhode Island, graduated with a bachelor of arts in history degree at Swarthmore College, and taught at Sandy Spring Friends School in Md. before coming to Friends Select. During the 2006-2007 school year, she was granted a Klingenstein Fellowship. She spent the year in New York City, studying at Columbia University, where she completed both her fellowship (studying divisional transitions and curricular continuity in pre-k through twelve independent schools), and her master's degree in educational leadership. Christy lives with her family in Center City and is active in the life of her city community, both as a Democratic committee person and community garden coordinator. Her older son is a student at Friends Select and her younger son is looking forward to joining his mom and brother soon.

Ralph Reinwald
Ralph has been a dedicated member of the Friends Select School community since 1971. He earned a bachelor's of science degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh and an master's degree in mathematics from Villanova University. He has been chair of the math department since 1978. He is also a member of the foreign language department and in the past was a vital member of the history department. Ralph has taught a variety of courses over the years ranging from sixth grade basic math to advanced calculus and chaotic dynamic systems. Ralph is equally enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge regarding ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt with the school community. Finally, because of Ralph’s expertise, the study of Latin continues to be a mainstay in the curriculum. In addition to being a master teacher at Friends Select, Ralph was the business manager during 1976-1977 and the summer school coordinator from 1994-1997. In his spare time, Ralph teaches math at Villanova University, where he is an adjunct instructor.

Edward Rhee
Edward Rhee, dean of middle school, is new to Friends Select this year. He has a bachelor’s degree in drama and English from Kenyon College and earned his master’s degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, specializing in school leadership. Ed joins us most recently from the Chapin School in Princeton, N.J., where he taught English, coached soccer and basketball and served as a part-time administrator. Ed enjoys spending his free time traveling with his fiancée, Katie, and his rottweiler Vala ("singled out," Old German).

Kate Rice
Kate joined Friends Select as an after school teacher in 2002. Currently a lead pre-kindergarten teacher, she also served as assistant kindergarten teacher from 2003 through November 2006. Kate holds a bachelor's degree in political science and art history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which included a year of art history study in Florence, Italy.

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Deborah Rickards
Debby came to Friends Select School as a student teacher in 1990. She assumed a full-time teaching position in 1992. Debby holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers College and master's degree in education from University of Pennsylvania. Prior to her work as a teacher, Debby worked in marketing and advertising in the banking industry. She serves on many committees within the school community, and is the lower school representative to the school's board of trustees. She has presented "Learning to be a Mentor" and "Parent, Child, Teacher Journals" at the Ethnography Forum at University of Pennsylvania. She also has mentored many beginning teachers from University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.  Debby's sons are both Friends Select graduates.

Nancy Kang Rosin  
Nancy Rosin joined Friends Select as its assistant director of development in 2006. She received her bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and her J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law. She recently was a research assistant in the market research and analysis department at the University of Pennsylvania.

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George Sedgwick
George Sedgwick, chair of the English department, joined the Friends Select faculty in 2002. For three years, George taught English at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, Fla. Prior to that, he was a member of the English faculty at Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, Pa. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The College of William and Mary, and a master’s in English and creative writing from Temple University.

Amy Segel
Amy Segel is the assistant director of the lower school. She came to Friends Select in September 2006 after teaching at The Philadelphia School, and most recently, directing the program at The Big Backyard Nursery School. She has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a master’s degree in education from University of Pennsylvania.

Caroline Sime
Carol teaches second grade. She earned a bachelor's degree from Hood College and a master's of fine arts from Montclair State University. She was a classroom volunteer at the Greenfield School in Philadelphia from 1991 to 1997, and has served as an education assistant at the Delaware Art Museum. She began teaching at Friends Select in 1997 as an assistant teacher. Carol is currently pursuing a graduate degree at St. Joseph’s University.

Abbi Smith
Abbi joined the Friends Select math faculty in 2001 and the science faculty in 2004. A native of Alaska, she graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, with a B.S. in physics with mathematics minor. After her undergraduate work, Abbi served as a mathematics specialist with Project SEED, a national, non-profit mathematics organization that works to expose at-risk inner city students to higher-level mathematics. During her first two years at Friends Select, Abbi attended graduate school at Drexel University, earning her M.Ed. in secondary education in June 2003. Abbi currently teaches algebra II and precalculus in upper school and conceptual physics in middle school. In addition to teaching, Abbi is the grade dean for the class of 2011.

Lynda M. Stine
Lynda, a long-time Friends Select employee, is the lower and middle school secretary. She has been at Friends Select since 1968. Lynda went to Peirce Junior College and she enjoys needlepoint and church in her spare time. Prior to being the secretary for lower and middle schools, she was the secretary for the development office.

Patricia Aznar Supovitz
Patricia Aznar Supovitz joined Friends Select School in September 2004. A native of Mexico, Patricia graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 with a masters in education, specializing in foreign language, kindergarten through 12th grade. Patricia has been a language teacher since 1990 in both Mexico and the United States. In Philadelphia, she has taught Spanish at The Philadelphia School. She previously worked as a medical and court interpreter and has taught adult language classes at Harvard Business School and elsewhere. Patricia is currently designing and implementing the foreign language program in the lower school. She teaches Spanish, grades K-5.


Desiree Lacey Tee
Desiree Lacey Tee joined Friends Select School in 2003 as a second grade teaching assistant. She currently is a third grade lead teacher.
Desiree graduated from Cabrini College with a bachelor's degree in history and Spanish in 1999, and earned her master's degree in early childhood education from University of Phoenix in 2007. At Cabrini, she studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, and became an active member of Phi Alpha Theta. She has previously worked at The Episcopal Academy and spent two years as a teaching assistant at The Shipley School. For the last several years, Desiree has spent her summers and most of the school year teaching for the Steppingstone Foundation.

Stephen Terlesky
Stephen started at Friends Select School in 2006. He teaches lower, middle and upper school health and physical education, and also coaches the middle school swim team. Stephen earned a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education at West Virginia University. Before coming to Friends Select, he was a substitute teacher at Germantown Friends School and Germantown Academy.

Anne Thomforde Thomas
Anne Thomforde Thomas teaches kindergarten. Anne earned a bachelor's degree from Bryn Mawr College and a master's degree in education from Temple University. Since joining the Friends Select faculty in 1978, Anne has taught every grade, from kindergarten through fourth. Anne has been a parent at Friends Select continuously since 1979! Her youngest daughter will graduate in June 2008. She is a member of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, one of two Quaker meetings that oversee governance of Friends Select. She is a gardener, plays the violin in the Chestnut Hill Orchestra, and raises corn snakes.

Derek van der Tak
Derek teaches music in the lower school. He joined the Friends Select faculty in 1995. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and the history of science from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master's degree in composition from Temple University. He started teaching in the Philadelphia public schools in 1991. He also taught for a number of years at The Philadelphia School. Derek trained in classical piano with Alexander Lipsky and in the Taubman technique with Robert Durso. He is a performing jazz, creative movement and theatre artist. He maintains an active study of Tai Chi Chuan and a love for Dalcroze eurhythmics and world music.

Martha Van Nuis
Martha teaches sixth grade reading and mathematics and is the fine arts department chair. Martha has taught third and fourth grades at Friends Select. She joined the faculty in 1993 after sixteen years as a practicing city planner and the executive director of the Lansdale Development Foundation. Martha earned a bachelor's degree from Goucher College and master's degrees in city planning and education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Anita Voluntad-De-Pace
Anita Voluntad-DePace is the director and teacher of upper and middle school English as a Second Language (ESL). Prior to coming to Friends Select in 2002, she taught in the middle school at Abington Friends School. She worked and volunteered with Cultural Connections Collaborative in Upper Darby in its ESL program and researched material for its cultural diversity handbook. Anita earned a bachelor's of science degree in elementary education from Chestnut Hill College. She also has an extensive background in the fine arts as a figure painter.


Ann Wallace
Ann is assistant to the head of school, having previously worked in both the admission and business offices. Previously, Ann worked for a private, not-for-profit health care consulting firm for nine years. Ann has a B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College, graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She is married to John Wallace '68.

Wendy Waloff
Wendy Waloff is a member of the upper school English department at Friends Select. She originally came to the school in 1992 as upper school librarian. Prior to that she taught at the Miquon School in Whitemarsh. Wendy earned a bachelor's degree from Barnard College and master's degrees from Bryn Mawr College and Drexel University. In addition to teaching English, Wendy is an upper school grade dean and the yearbook advisor. All three of her daughters graduated from Friends Select, one in 1996 and two in 2000. Wendy also works as a textile artist, selling and exhibiting quilts and wearable art.

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Steven Weatherman
Steve teaches drama in the middle and upper schools. He is a graduate of Waldorf Lutheran College in Iowa and is a student at Westminster Choir College. He is associated with the Bridge Ensemble and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

Anne Wentling
Anne, who taught at Friends Select from 1986 to 1990, returned in 1996 to teach French and Spanish in the upper and middle schools. Anne earned a bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in bilingual education from Penn State University. After leaving Friends Select in 1990, Anne worked part-time supervising student teachers in the graduate education department at the University of Pennsylvania and teaching Spanish and French at Holy Family College. Her experience prior to 1986 included teaching French and Spanish at the Gilman School in Baltimore, Md. Currently chair of the world languages department, Anne has led numerous student exchange trips to France and Spain. She has two daughters enrolled at Friends Select.

Chris White
As network administrator at Friends Select School, Chris provides desktop and administrative function support, and ensures that all aspects of computer technology are kept in good working order. Chris earned a bachelor of science degree in business marketing and management at Kutztown University, and a network administrator diploma at the Chubb Institute. His IT certifications are: A plus, Network plus, Microsoft Certified Professional 2000 Server and Microsoft Certified System Administrator Windows 2000 Server. Chris came to Friends Select in 2004. In his free time, he enjoys following the career highs and lows of Philadelphia professional sports teams, golf, spending time with family, and playing with computers.

Lisa White Jones
Lisa is an assistant teacher kindergarten and a part-time teacher of dance. An accomplished dancer and actress, Lisa earned a bachelor of fine arts in dance education from the University of the Arts and studied at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Philadelphia Dance Studio and Freedom Theatre. Lisa has taught at University of the Arts, Lincoln University and, for a number of years, in the after school program at Friends Select.

Oliver Withstandley
Oliver, who joined Friends Select School in 2007, is an assistant teacher in second grade. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from Connecticut College and a master's of science in elementary education from University of Pennsylvania. In his free time, Oliver runs, reads voraciously, and practices the Brazilian dance martial art of Capoeira.

Deneen Young
Deneen Young joined Friends Select in 2003, where she is registrar and assistant to the upper school. Before coming to the school, she spent 11 years at Thomas Jefferson University, where she became senior administrative assistant and coordinator for the committee on student promotions. Committed to community, she has been a block captain in the Overbrook Park neighborhood for 12 years and, before stepping down in 2004, served for 11 years as 21st Ward Democratic committeewoman. Deneen is an active member of Sharon Baptist Church, where she serves on the Women’s Ministry, and is a primary teacher in the church’s Tot’s Ministry program. In previous years, she was a personal assistant to Jeffrey Townes, better known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, a contemporary of Will Smith’s, both of whom she counts as personal friends.

Michael Zimmerman
Michael is the director of the lower school, where he is responsible for maintaining the vibrant, content-rich, challenging and friendly elementary school program. Michael came to Friends Select in July 2004 from The Philadelphia School, where he taught and served as reading specialist for sixteen years of his 25-year career in elementary education. Michael earned a master’s degree in reading from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University. A father of two, Michael enjoys playing guitar, reading, writing, and reminiscing about his days as a hang glider pilot.

Send an e-mail to any Friends Select School Teacher to colleenp@friends-select.org