Ed Oliver is co-chair of the Board of Trustees and is the parent of a lower school student. Ed is a Quaker and a member of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting. Having served as a co-opted member of the Nominating and Governance Committee, Ed is excited to have the opportunity to continue his service to the Brooklyn Friends School community as a member of the board. Ed received his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a BA in Business Administration from Morehouse College. He is the Director – Finance at Dataminr, a real-time information discovery company, supervising a New York and London based team.

Penny is an attorney and a former Partner of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP. Over more than 20 years at Cahill, Penny focused on commercial litigation and government investigations, with particular emphasis on complex securities and insurance matters, and served a four-year term as Co-Administrative Partner of the firm. Prior to her legal career, Penny was a financial analyst at Kidder Peabody & Co. and Bear Stearns & Co.

Penny retired from private practice in 2019 to focus on service in the public interest sector. In addition to her service on the Board of Trustees, she serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Center for Family Representation, a groundbreaking nonprofit organization that provides families and youth in crisis with legal representation and social work services to enable children from vulnerable families to live with their parents safely, and as a member of the Development Board of Phillips Academy.

Penny has lived in Brooklyn Heights for more than 25 years. She and her husband John have a daughter in the Upper School.

Nicole has been the Head of School of the Advent School since 2013. Her career work spans the full spectrum of education from early childhood to her work in student affairs and development in both public and private universities across the country.

Nicole has spent the last 20 years exploring equity and access in education. Nicole is a well sought out consultant that  works with school and nonprofit faculty, administrators, and boards across the country to engage in equity and justice work and serves as a mentor and facilitator for Administrators and Faculty of Color and Women aspiring for school leadership roles with the National Association of Independent Schools  and the Association of Independent Schools of New England.

Before her time at Advent, she served as the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC. Nicole holds a BA in Political Science and International Affairs, and an MA in Organizational Communications and Development with a concentration on Cross-Cultural Communications. Nicole is a faculty member for the National Association of Independent Schools’ Diversity Leadership Institute and an executive board member and chair of the Trustee Committee for the Association of Independent Schools of New England.

Nicole is also a board member for Waynflete School in Portland, ME and Brooklyn Friends School in Brooklyn, NY. A board member of the 1911 Heads’ Association,  Membership Committee Member on Diversity and the ESHA Annual Conference Chair for 2016. She served as a Partner for the Planning Committee for the 2017 Progressive Educators Network Annual Conference and the National Anti-Racist Teaching Institute in 2021. She is a founding executive board member for Schooling For Hope in Massachusetts. Nicole is an adjunct  faculty Member at Longy School of Music and has produced curriculum, assessments, and strategic planning for over 20 schools and nonprofits. Nicole is a diversity, equity and inclusion coach and consultant across the country. She has worked with numerous organizations to support their equity and inclusion efforts. With her work with Nashville and Cincinnati Symphony, Shelter Music, Beacon Academy and the Whitby School, Nicole believes that organizations can live fully in mission through the work of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. Nicole is a Global Ambassador for the Queen Morta School in Vilnius, Lithuania, a member of the corporation of the Community Music Center Boston. She lives in Boston, with her partner, son and two French Bulldogs.

Allison is the parent of two children at BFS — Joshua ’25 and Sidney ’28 — a partner at WorkLab LLC, and the Associate Director of the Dynamics of Consulting program.  Prior to joining the Board of Trustees in September 2020, she was a long-time co-opted member of the Advancement Committee, through which she and her husband Mark co-chaired BFS’s most recent capital campaign and served on the Brooklyn Friends Fund committee.  In addition to her service on the BFS Board, Allison sits on the board of the Prospect Park Alliance, co-chairs the Camp Advisory Board for Camp Sea Gull & Camp Seafarer, and serves on the Steering Committee for the Society of 1918 at the College of William & Mary.  Trained in management and behavioral sciences, Allison draws on a systems perspective to inform her work and service, seeking to understand and nurture the underlying, interconnected factors that shape outcomes in each of these complex organizations.  Allison holds a BA in English from the College of William & Mary and an MA in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from New York University.  A Virginia native, she now lives in Park Slope with Mark and her sons.

M Salomé Galib is a writer and an attorney. She promotes, and fundraises for, not-for-profit organizations that advance issues close to her heart.  Besides serving on the Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Friends School, she is on the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and the Hostos Community College Foundation Board. She also serves on the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust’s Advisory Council, and the Sila M. Calderón Center for Puerto Rico’s Diaspora Advisory Council.  Early in her career, Ms. Galib was a business reporter and the Washington correspondent for El Nuevo Día, the leading daily newspaper in her native Puerto Rico. She was also a Clinton Administration appointee at the US Information Agency, now part of the US State Department.  Besides her past work as an associate at two NY law firms, Ms. Galib was the NY Office Director for the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico and Development Director for LatinoJustice-PRLDEF. Until recently, she owned Bebe Sol LLC, a purveyor of children’s apparel.  She holds a JD from Columbia Law School, an MIA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a BSFS from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.  “We moved to Brooklyn on the first week of September 2007. Our oldest daughter moved into Kindergarten at Brooklyn Friends that same week. We cannot imagine our lives outside of either community and are grateful for it.”

Lakisha Grant is the mother of a current lower school student. She is a member of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting and serves as co-clerk of the Childcare Committee. After graduating from Westtown School, Lakisha received her BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She also holds a MS in Human Resources Management and a MFA in Acting. Lakisha has worked for NYC for 10 years and is currently the Deputy Director in Human Resources at the Office of the Mayor. She and her son reside in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Martha Hyde, a member of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting, is a professional musician who plays woodwind instruments. She has performed in venues ranging from Alice Tully Hall to CBGB’s to the Cathedral of St. John the Devine as well as tours on four continents. She can regularly be seen in the orchestra pits on Broadway and Radio City Music Hall and has performed with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Hugh Jackman, Whoopi Goldberg and Glenn Close. She is also on numerous cast recordings. She is a co-founder of the New River Ensemble which has toured the eastern United States from Massachusetts to Georgia. She has run band programs and taught classes in New York City public schools as well private schools. She is on the faculty of Friends Music Camp, held every July on the campus of Earlham College. She has two sons, both in their twenties and lives in East New York with her husband. Her board experience includes Friends House at Rose Hill, the Musicians Health Fund at Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians and the Executive Board of Local 802.

Audrey Jaynes ’03 

Bill Morris is joining the Brooklyn Friends Board of Trustees after a 40-year career in education.  This June, Bill retired after 13 years as Head of School at Friends Academy on Long Island.   Prior to that, he spent 27 years at the Taft School in Connecticut, a boarding school for grades 9-12.  Bill began his career as a teacher, coach, and dorm advisor, and over time undertook a broad range of school leadership roles before becoming a School Head.  Bill has served on the New York State Association of Independent Schools Board of Trustees for eight years, and he has chaired the NYSAIS Commission on Accreditation for the last seven years.  He is a member of Country Day School Headmasters Association and The Headmasters Association.  He now lives near Lake Placid, NY.  He and Sue, his wife of 42 years, have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren.  “The opportunity to continue my association with Quaker education, work closely with my long-time friend and colleague Larry Weiss, and offer what I can to advance the service Brooklyn Friends provides for students and families so excites me about joining this vibrant and forward looking community.  I have found that the values of a Friends community resonate deeply with me personally and spiritually.  I believe that the essence of Friends education is to develop in students a sense of gratitude, patience, and forgiveness.  My hope is that the graduates of Brooklyn Friends will appreciate how they owe the world a life rather than the world owing them a living, to paraphrase the words of Amy Willets, a Quaker.”

Adam is a parent of two children at Brooklyn Friends School, Alexander (‘33) and Julian (‘35).  As a product of a liberal education, Adam believes very strongly in the power of an independent school education to develop lifelong learners with a deep curiosity, a drive for educational excellence, and an appreciation for their responsibility to our world. Adam and his wife Azi live in Brooklyn Heights.

Jill Simeone is the mom of Stella (class of ‘26) and Arlo (class of ‘24). She lives in Park Slope, and has called Brooklyn home for almost 30 years. Jill is the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, of Etsy, Inc. She manages a global cross-functional team, overseeing legal, compliance, government affairs, marketplace policy, advocacy, and regulatory matters. Since joining Etsy in 2017, Jill advised the board and management on Etsy’s rapid pivot, turnaround, and scaling.  As a trusted advisor to the Etsy Board and its committees, Jill has counseled on complex governance matters, litigation, business strategy and risk management, and Integrated ESG Reporting. In addition to her close work with public boards, Jill has served on various non-profit boards for the past decade, including as a director of Praxis Housing, and Vice President and President of the UC Hasting School of Law Board of Governors. Jill is deeply committed to STEAM education, and for five years chaired the STEAM Committee at PS 107, running the school’s annual STEAM Day, as well as teaching the before school math enrichment program. Jill’s husband, Stephen Kitts, is a graduate of The George School, and was greatly influenced by his Quaker education. Jill & Stephen are proud to be members of the BFS Community.

Gloria Thompson’s Quaker roots began in Jamaica more than 60 years.  There she attended Top Moro and Worthington Friends Meetings and Happy Grove High School (Quaker).  Presently, she serves as the Clerk of Manhattan Monthly Meeting; a semi-programmed Meeting located on the same premises as 15^th Street Meeting House, Manhattan.  Gloria has served on various New York Quarterly, New York Yearly Meeting (NYYM) and National Quaker Organizations Committees, for example Quaker United Nation Office (QUNO), Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).  She also serves as FWCC Northeast Regional Coordinator as well as Co-Clerk for Representative Engagement Program Group (REPG). Gloria is a trained Alternative to Violence (AVP) facilitator.

Gloria is an Education Consultant, whose career spans more than 40 years as a middle school computer technology coordinator, high school science teacher, instructional technology specialist, Early Intervention Specialist, Staff Developer and Workshop Presenter.  Over the years, she has forged collaborative partnerships and bonds with like-minded educators to strengthen her foundational skills, as well as the future of Early Childhood and Rural Education in Guyana and Jamaica.  Gloria has participated in education roundtables in several countries including China, Australia, Jamaica, Nepal, Kenya and Guyana.  She has served as staff developer; Instructional Technology, Chairperson:  School Leadership /Principal’s Advisory Team Workshop Facilitator; GESA Program, The Eisenhower K-16 Alliance, Early Childhood and Instructional Technology;

Participated in:

• NASA Explorer Schools Program, NASA Goddard Space Center, Maryland.
• Syracuse University – TIPS Program
• Teaching Matters Inc.  Train-the-Trainer

Gloria is a Mico University College Gold Medal recipient for excellence in education.

Eisa Ulen Richardson and her husband, Ralph Richardson, Jr., are the proud parents of Ralphie, Class of 2027, who started his education at the Family Center. Eisa has served Brooklyn Friends in various capacities, including member of the Brooklyn Friends Fund Committee, Co-Chair of the PAT Diversity Committee (now DEIP), Co-President of the PAT, Executive Vice-President of the BFF, Class Parent, and member of the Search Committee for a New Head of School. She is currently a member of the Advancement Committee. Eisa holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA in Philosophy and Education from Columbia University. An educator with over 20 years’ experience, Eisa teaches the literature of Africa and the African Diaspora at Hunter College. She is an award-winning writer whose essays on African American culture have been widely anthologized, and author of the novel Crystelle Mourning. Eisa is also the Executive Director of Greeneprints, a local nonprofit that runs the summer program she founded, Camp Fort Greene. Chapter President of Mocha Moms Brooklyn for four years, Eisa currently serves on the Play:GroundNYC Advisory Board.

Nancy brought to her service on the Brooklyn Friends School Committee a deep commitment to the school, a sure sense of Friends’ business practice and testimonies and an abiding belief in the value of Quaker education. Her voice was always welcome. In moments of turmoil or indecision, Nancy returned us to the issue at hand with wisdom, humor, clarity, firmness and affection. She was an empathetic, encouraging colleague and mentor and a gifted clerk, whose centered and resolute leadership guided us through both difficult and happier times.

Dana served as School Committee member for three full terms. Dana never hesitated to do what was asked of her and consistently went above and beyond for the betterment of the school. She was known for asking tough questions that needed to be considered and for taking positions on occasion that caused committee members to reflect and re-evaluate their positions. Dana served selflessly and generously gave of herself in many ways — her time, hospitality, spirit and complete support. Her service exemplifies the value a Brooklyn Friends School, School Committee member can bring the committee. We thank Dana for her years of dedication and much appreciated service.

Conway brought to his nine years of service on the School Committee of Brooklyn Friends School balance, steady wisdom and humor. He often discerned the possible, unexpected consequences of committee actions, and he often returned the committee to its longer-term, strategic responsibilities. His guidance helped refine and improve many decisions, on occasion after the rest of the committee had seemed content with an earlier and, in hindsight, poorer result. His perspective was always valued, as was his informed and abiding commitment to the school.

Anita served on the School Committee of Brooklyn Friends School with great faithfulness, competently and cheerfully carrying out all tasks assigned to her. She brought to her work an impressive intelligence and logical mind, operating on a sound foundation of common sense and good judgment. She asked good questions and expected good answers. Anita’s work was consistently informed by her framework of Quaker understanding, enriching our collective approach to our stewardship of Brooklyn Friends School.

We wish to express our appreciation to Trefor Davies, faculty representative, for his service to the School Committee for the past two years. We respect his thoughtful, unique contributions to our process, and feel pleased we were able to have his participation on the School Committee.

Maura Eden was a wonderful part of the School Committee. In her gentle manner, she was constantly thoughtful, incisive and forthright as well as creative. She inspired us to pursue the truth and to use our knowledge to work to make things better. Her caring was always evident toward the rest of us on the Committee and for the essence of Brooklyn Friends School.

Cynthia Cohen served as a Board of Trustee member for three full terms.  She served the school in many capacities.  We are especially grateful for her leadership, as Clerk of the Expansion and Building Committees.  She is known for working tirelessly and selflessly to support the objectives of the school community.  During her last years on the Board, she remained committed to helping the school identify sites for our expansion and continues to serve on the Expansion Committee as a co-opted member.  We will miss Cynthia’s leadership and unique contributions to our school.

In his 9 years of service on the BFS Board, Benjamin Warnke made many valuable contributions, including serving as Treasurer, Assistant Clerk, and Clerk, as well as ongoing service on the Expansion Committee as the school searched for new space.    Perhaps his most significant effort was his leadership in helping the school and the New York Quarterly Meeting come together in a decision to allow BFS to separately incorporate.  To all his work, Benjamin brought a measured, thoughtful voice, a deep love for Brooklyn Friends School, and a sensitivity to the stirrings of the Spirit.  When clerking Board meetings, Benjamin’s skillful interweaving of humor, wisdom, and spiritual discernment showed us, again and again, the power of Quaker process in revealing truth and the right way forward.  His legacy remains in a Board that is committed to lifting up the school’s Quaker mission so that BFS graduates will always change the world through lives of leadership and service.

In her six years on the Board of Trustees, Verina worked on multiple committees, including Development, Head Search, Nominating, and as a liaison to the Parents and Teachers association. Among her many contributions were a set of guidelines for new Trustees and their mentors to facilitate professional growth, and service on the Horizons at BFS Board of Trustees from the moment of its inception. Verina’s love for BFS was apparent in everything she did. She never hesitated when asked to take on a new task and brought to each her keenintelligence, forthrightness, insight, and good humor. Verina will be sorely missed for her optimism and capacity to see and to appreciate the Light in all her colleagues. We are most grateful for her service.

The BFS Board minutes our profound appreciation for our former clerk, Alice Pope, for her 9 years of generous service. During her tenure as a Board Member and a Clerk, Alice was tireless in her efforts to advance the mission of the School. Alice was instrumental in the process of the School’s separate incorporation from the New York Quarterly Meeting. During that challenging process Alice taught us to meet adversity and anger with grace and patience so that we could work together to find a path forward. Alice’s leadership and steady hand leading the Head Search Committee to find our current head Dr. Larry Weiss allowed for a spirit led process that led us to a wonderful result. As a result of her guidance we are stronger Friends and better stewards of Brooklyn Friends School. We are deeply indebted to Alice for her leadership and direction.

The BFS Board minutes our great appreciation for our former board member, Whitney Thompson. During her tenure as a Board Member, Whitney offered an important and much valued viewpoint as a staff member and educator. She frequently contributed a informed and enlightened perspective on important board issues and worked tirelessly in the interest of the school. We are grateful to Whitney for her voice, integrity, her stewardship of Quaker process, education, and values, and her careful attention to moving forward the strategic mission of Brooklyn Friends School.

Dot brought to her service as a trustee of the BFS board a thoughtful, clear and compassionate perspective on all issues addressed by the board. Grounded in her sense of Quaker testimonies, her belief in Quaker education, her practical experience as a classroom teacher and her love as a BFS parent, Dot provided unique and important insights.  She often expressed her great appreciation for BFS.  The board expresses our appreciation to Dot for her service on the board with deep gratitude.

Wade Black brought his astute insights, thoughtful discernment, and a warm sense of humor to his service on the Brooklyn Friends School Board of Trustees. He served from 2009 to 2014 and played a key role on the Finance and the Building and Property committees, supporting upper school expansion efforts. A BFS alum, a member of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting, and a parent, Wade made a significant contribution to the work of the Board and the future of the school. He will be missed, and the Board of Trustees expresses its deep gratitude for his service.

Fern served as School Committee member for three full terms. She served as Clerk of the Nominating Committee and School Affairs Committee. Fern never hesitated to work on School Committee special projects. On short notice last year, she hosted in her home, our School Committee February Retreat. It is obvious Fern is committed to the value of a Quaker Education; her three children have been active students in many school plays, sports and musical events. We will miss Fern’s open and direct candor, “thought leadership” and passion for our school.

We would like to express appreciation to Sharon for her innumerable thoughtful, tireless and enthusiastic contributions to Brooklyn Friends School as a School Committee member. We will miss not only her many specific efforts and the projects she shepherded so reliably and effectively but also her intensely committed and intelligent presence.

Bill Kuntz brought to his service on the Brooklyn Friends School Committee significant and welcome legal expertise and a long history in the stewardship of independent schools. He was able to share a broader view of the obstacles and opportunities facing the school. He also shared a gift for discerning the larger context when, on occasion, the committee’s discussions were mired in particulars. Bill advised the committee on several difficult internal issues with clarity and sensitivity. The school will miss his judgment and counsel.

Sam’s service on the board was marked by an incredible level of generosity in every aspect of his involvement.  His insightful and thoughtful questions, particularly related to financial matters, and his creative, out of the box development ideas, sparked important discussions and thinking on critical issues before the board.  Sam brought to his board service a rich personal experience with Friends education, which was evident in all he did for Brooklyn Friends School.  The board greatly appreciates his spirited commitment to our school.

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Martin for his service on the Brooklyn Friends Board of Trustees. Martin’s fifty plus years of dedication to the school along with his experience as a convinced Quaker guided us to better understand the school’s soul. We will miss his wisdom, spiritual guidance, attention to detail, and great wit. Undoubtedly, Martin has helped the school and board of trustees maintain a trajectory toward simplicity and integrity. Thank you, Martin.

The Brooklyn Friends School Board of Trustees minutes its profound gratitude to Karen Robinson for her eight years of service on the board, four as co-clerk. She was present at a uniquely exciting time, from the School’s becoming independent, the School’s ownership of its own building, to the School’s early steps in implementing its expansion.  Perhaps her most extraordinary characteristic was her grace in the midst of dispute, her ability to see that people with very different ideas were motivated by the same goal, the good of the School.  But apart from her skills as co-clerk, Karen was a gentle, strong presence whose humor allowed her to keep running when others would have expired at the twentieth mile.  We shall miss her very much, and we wish her and Lowell all the best in Pennsylvania.

Ninon brought to her nine years of service to the Board of Trustees a thoughtful, respectful and often passionate approach to board issues. As someone who was neither an alum nor a parent, Ninon’s role as a Friend and active supporter of the school was particularly meaningful. Bringing forth her sense of Quaker process to every decision, she often spoke from within, encouraging fellow trustees to open their minds and hearts to take into consideration all aspects of every decision. Ninon was also always willing to grow her own self, welcoming new thoughts, learn new skills and appreciating the input of fellow trustees. Ninon’s perspective was always welcome and valued, and board decisions were often made better as a result of her presence on the Board.

The Brooklyn Friends School Board of Trustees minutes its profound gratitude to Lisa Sack for her six years of service to the Board, of which she served three years as Co-Chair. Lisa served as the first non-Quaker Co-Chair after the school incorporated separately from New York Quarterly Meeting and felt deep responsibility for her role and strove to maintain strong ties to the Quaker community. Her limitless energy, love, and indefatigable advocacy for the school was felt by all who worked with her. The school’s recent accomplishments, including its progress on its expansion plans and fulfillment of its strategic plan goals, were markedly advanced by her service. Her example of fiduciary stewardship has been an inspiration to all who have served with her and will continue to be felt for many years to come. We thank her and will strive to continue the efforts to which she so tirelessly devoted herself.

The Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Friends School wishes to Minute its appreciation for Board member Lara Holliday.  Lara has served on the Board of Trustees at Brooklyn Friends School for nine years, which is the maximum time a Trustee can serve, and in those nine years she served on virtually every Board committee.  For her final three years on the Board she served as the Quaker Co-Chair for the Board and prior to becoming Board Co-Chair, she clerked the Development committee.  The Board and its members have assumed a stronger, more enhanced role in the School’s fundraising efforts, thanks in great part to her leadership within the Development committee and as Co-Chair of the Board.  Her tireless work and time spent working for the Board, Trustees, and the School in general, are inspiring and will be greatly missed by the Board.  In her time on the Board the school faced many challenges but also saw unprecedented growth in the school’s history.

The Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Friends School wishes to Minute its appreciation for Board member Mitch McEwen. A member of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting, McEwen served on the BFS Board for two years, infusing it with her vital and transformative energy and vision. Given her professional background in architectural and urban design, she was quickly drafted into her central role on the Building Committee. During her tenure, BFS made the move into its new Lawrence Street Upper School, so her expertise proved crucial in helping to ease and oversee this watershed transition. At a time when most eyes were focused solely on Lawrence Street, she worked hard to formalize a schedule of renovations for the Pearl Street building, recognizing the need to navigate a now far more complicated renovation schedule between the two buildings. Mitch needed to resign due to her acceptance of a prestigious tenure-track offer at the University of Michigan. Showing her characteristic dedication, she commuted and tele-commuted to our Board meetings, even though she was located in the Midwest. Her Board colleagues trust she will thrive immensely in Michigan, and thank her for her service.

The Board of Trustees at Brooklyn Friends School wishes to Minute its appreciation for Barbara von Salis’ service. Barbara served on the Board of Trustees for 5 years and also served as the Board’s Recording Clerk. In her time as Recording Clerk, Barbara was instrumental in enhancing the Board’s Minute recording, making the Board even more in-line with Quaker process and business. At Board meetings she diligently produced and finalized Minutes ensuring clear and final Minutes for the Board.

As a Trustee, Barbara brought unique perspectives to the Board. Barbara was a “Lifer” at Brooklyn Friends School, is a birthright Quaker and a former teacher at our sister school Mary McDowell Friends School. She was also one of the youngest Board members to serve on the Board recently. Her voice from this place helped the Board see issues from her particular experience and background, making the entire Board more in touch with students, faculty, and the Quaker community as a whole. Truly the Board has been enriched by her service and we thank her for it.

The role of faculty/staff trustee is one of the more challenging roles on the BFS board of trustees. It requires the ability to set aside the concrete, daily-lived experience in place of working at the broad, and often abstract, strategic level. It also requires taking on the responsibilities of support and evaluation of the Head of School while being an employee of the school. These feats of mental acrobatics require commitment, centering, diligence, and care. Ed Herzman has brought all of these qualities to his service as a faculty/staff trustee.

In his role on the School Affairs committee, his articulation of challenges and possible solutions has provided a foundation for a significant transition to take place between the board and the school. Likewise, on the ad hoc working group, he has never swayed in his dedication and determination. He has provided thoughtful leadership by opening the group to hear a wider range of voices and by providing the context for deeper listening.

Most importantly, Ed has consistently held up the needs students as the core of our work. We say goodbye to Ed with deep gratitude for his time on the board and look forward to continuing connections with him through his different roles and capacities in the school community.

The Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Friends School minutes its great appreciation for Richard Cutler ’62.

Richard Cutler, BFS Class of 1962, is completing his ninth year of distinguished and dedicated service to the Brooklyn Friends School Board of Trustees in 2017. Richard’s three terms as a Trustee followed prior service as a co-opted member of the Board’s Development Committee and as an alumni class agent for many years. For the past fourteen years, Richard has conducted an invaluable annual estate planning seminar for the BFS community. In addition, he provided personalized estate planning services to faculty, parents and alums.

In his nine years as a Trustee, Richard has played a significant and stabilizing role as a member of the Finance Committee during years of substantial enrollment growth and physical expansion. The latter often involved important legal and financial negotiations and decisions, and Richard’s input was always thoughtful and well-considered. In his multi-faceted roles on the Board, Richard’s service was always characterized by a sense of joyful camaraderie and generosity of spirit.

As a model of stalwart support for his alma mater, Richard has regularly reached out to other alums and encouraged their involvement in the school, often advocating the inclusion of BFS in their estate plans. In recognition of Richard’s multi-faceted service to Brooklyn Friends, he was awarded the school’s highest honor, the George Fox Award, at the 2013 Commencement ceremonies.

We thank Richard for his outstanding service to the School.

Sarah Clarke served on the Brooklyn Friends School Board of Trustees from 2010 until the end of her second term in 2016. During those years Sarah served on the School Affairs Committee, where she skillfully helped navigate the complex and critical transition of the committee to be a school-based faculty and staff committee. She also clerked the Nominating and Governance Committee, where her brilliance in the areas of school governance, Quaker process, and strategic planning truly shone. For six years, Sarah was a steadfast, thoughtful, and deeply committed member of the Board, bringing her deep insight into independent school administration and her gentle but firm witness as a Quaker. A master of Quaker process and decision-making practices, Sarah’s leadership was as admired as it was invaluable to her fellow Trustees.

The Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Friends School wishes to
Minute its appreciation for Board member Brad Mulder. As a
proud member of the Class of ’83 and a dedicated parent of a
student, Brad gave his all to the school over the course of his
nine years of service on the Board. Board members came to
rely on Brad’s vast knowledge of the Board’s history, practice,
and rules, which he perfected during his four-year tenure as
Co-Chair of the Board. He served on many committees, and
continued his leadership after stepping down as Co-Chair by
remaining an integral and multi-year member of the Head
Support and Evaluation Committee. Brad worked tirelessly on
a whole range of crucial projects, whether that was the
transitioning of the School Affairs Committee into the Faculty
and Staff Council, or simply never missing the chance to
shake every hand at the annual graduation ceremony— a
task that he held particularly dear. The Board will greatly miss
his service, wisdom, and leadership, and is pleased to know
that his dedication to the school continues, with his ongoing
service on the Alumni Advisory Council.

The Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Friends School wishes to Minute
its appreciation for Board member Willie Mae Watkins. Willie Mae
has been a member of the Brooklyn Friends School Board of
Trustees for three years, during which time she served on the board’s
Spiritual Life Committee. As an active member of Brooklyn
Monthly Meeting and the parent of a Brooklyn Friends School alum,

Willie Mae connection to Quakerism and to the school has brought a
deeply valued perspective to the board. This perspective–and the
genuine care and spirit she brought to her board service–will be
missed, and it is with gratitude that we thank Willie Mae for her
service.

The Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Friends School wishes to
Minute its appreciation for Board member Ben Horner. Ben
became a member of the Brooklyn Friends School board in
2015 and is a member of Uwchlan Monthly Meeting. Ben
applied his experience growing up Quaker and as an educator
to the benefit of the board. His perspective as a faculty
member of Friends Seminary proved to be invaluable. His
concern for how a school
community can support all of its members provided vital input
to the board’s process.
While on the board Ben served as clerk of the Spiritual Life
committee where he worked to strengthen the connection to
Quakerism within the broader school community. His work on
establishing a monthly meeting for worship for parents and
caregivers served as a bridge to those who wanted to
experience Quakerism more actively at the school. Ben also
served as a member of the Strategic Plan committee. He
brought his appreciation for Quaker values and process to
that committee to strengthen the effort on our next Strategic
Plan. Ben will be missed but the board will be left better as a result of Ben’s
stewardship.

The BFS Board minutes our great appreciation for Kamauru
Johnson’s service as a Trustee. During his tenure as a Board
Member, Kamauru provided crucial connections between the
students he serves, the administrators with whom he
collaborates, and the Board’s strategic governance.
Kamauru’s considered contributions and analytic frame of
mind have benefitted the Board’s decision-making. This is
especially true with regard to his intimate knowledge of the
Upper School and his meaningful participation in our most
recent Head of School Search. We are deeply grateful for his
service.

The Board of Trustees at Brooklyn Friends School wishes to Minute
its appreciation for Larry Weiss’s Board service. In addition to
being the Head of School for the last nine years, Larry was a key
member of the Board of Trustees. Larry performed a myriad of
functions as a Board member: attending Board meetings and
retreats; leading numerous Board discussions concerning Board
policy and strategic vision; giving a Head-of-School report at each
Board meeting. Larry also served actively on many of the Board
Committees such as School Affairs, Finance, Advancement, and met
frequently with the Head Support and Evaluation Committee. Larry
worked tirelessly and faithfully as a Board member, advocating for

the Board and carrying out Board Decisions. Larry actively and
loyally participated in the Board’s Quaker decision-making process
of seeking unity for all Board decisions. Larry was also a key
liaison between the Board and the Brooklyn Monthly Meeting.
Larry inherited the Board’s Strategic Plan nine years ago and
faithfully adhered to its goals for his entire tenure, overseeing and
completing the expansion of the School’s facilities and enrollment
from 600 to 900 students, the seminal piece of the Strategic Plan.
Larry also inherited the Strategic plan for Diversity and completed
its key goal of creating a Department of Diversity (now known as
the Department of Equity and Inclusion) and hired the School’s first
ever Director of Diversity. Larry was always mindful of the
Strategic Plans in all that he did and moved both Plans along
considerably during his tenure.
We thank Larry for his tenure as the Head of School for the past
nine years and especially for his service as a Board member.