2024-25 New Employees List | Meet the 2024-25 New Faculty and Staff | News

Meet the 2024-25 New Faculty and Staff

Please join us in welcoming the following new employees to the Friends Select community:

Zidong Chen, After School Program Teacher

Bob Courey, Middle School Math Substitute

Lo Cuevas, After School Program Teacher

Winifred “Wini” Cummings, After School Program Teacher

Bridget Cunningham, Middle School Administrative Assistant

Olivia Gibb, After School Program Teacher

John Hart, After School Program Teacher

Raina Jackson, After School Program Teacher

Tanisha Jones, Lower School Lead Teacher

Jared Levy, Upper School History & Religion Teacher

Isaiah Matunda, Bus Driver

Joe McKinnon, Lower School Assistant Teacher

Kathryn Moran, Lower School Lead Teacher

Christopher “Cutter” Mummert, Middle School/Upper School Music Teacher

Ryan Peteraf, Middle School/Upper School Choral Director

Manuel Raposo, After School Program Teacher

Tess Rauscher, After School Program Teacher

Michelle Reyes, After School Program Teacher

Jason Symonette, Middle School/Upper School Art Teacher

Adam Torneo, After School Program Teacher

Lex Walker, After School Program Teacher

Reggie Waterman, Afternoon/Evening Greeter and Safety Monitor

Elyse Wilson, Upper School Learning Specialist

Mon, 09 Feb 2026

Philadelphia City Council Recognizes Friends Select Social Justice Week

Friends Select was honored during a recent Philadelphia City Council session at City Hall, in which a resolution was passed recognizing January 20-23 as Social Justice Week.

Tue, 13 Jan 2026

Joyful Learning

Friends Select School is creating a learning environment in which academic challenges and intellectual curiosity thrive alongside joy in learning.

Mon, 12 Jan 2026

Math Department Chair Satoia Wright Publishes a Textbook

With her recently released algebra curriculum textbook, Friends Select’s math department chair and middle school math teacher, Satoia Wright, is sharing her passion and expertise to make math programming accessible.

Sun, 11 Jan 2026

Michael Gary Speaks: Fall 2025

As I reflect on a new school year at Friends Select, I’m struck by a fundamental truth that guides our educational philosophy: learning should be joyful, purposeful, and deeply engaging.

Wed, 07 Jan 2026

In Good Hands with Helping Hands

Aligned with Friends Select’s Quaker values of placing learning at the service of society, the Helping Hands club is engaging upper school students in meaningful community service opportunities across various sectors.

Tue, 06 Jan 2026

Caring for Our Community: In Conversation with Recently Hired Employees

In this continuation of our Select News series, we highlight some of the outstanding employees who have recently joined Friends Select and have shared their perspectives on our school.

Mon, 05 Jan 2026

Above Board: It Feels Like Purpose

A deep sense of purpose—palpable both at the board level and among Friends Select’s students, families, faculty, and staff—drew me to join the board in the first place and then say “yes” when Ingrid Lakey ’89, P’27 was ready to pass the torch of clerkship.

Sun, 04 Jan 2026

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy Before the Creation of a Federal Holiday

Thanks to the advocacy of students, Friends Select’s history of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. predates the creation of a federal holiday.

Thu, 01 Jan 2026

Giving Back: Sam Spear ’71

As members of the Dick Hoffman Circle of longtime donors, Sam Spear ’71 and his wife Rosanne exemplify the many ways donors can support the school, from contributions to the Friends Select Fund and gifts made through the Pennsylvania State Tax Credit Program to leadership-level gifts as part of the Benefactors Society.

Tue, 30 Dec 2025