Gwynedd Friends School’s faculty and staff work closely with the leadership team in curriculum development and classroom management. The leadership team is comprised of our Head of School, Assistant Head of School, Director of Admissions and Development, and Curriculum Coordinator. Each member of GFS’s talented faculty and staff bring a wealth of experience and expertise to every aspect of our early childhood program. Lead teachers (and many of our assistant teachers) hold bachelor’s degrees and/or master’s degrees in Early Childhood, Elementary and/or Special Education. Most faculty and staff members are proud parents of current Gwynedd Friends School students and alumni.
LEADERSHIP
Maggie Chiles, Head of School
Maggie loves her leadership role at GFS. Working with teachers, families and students in developing and supporting program, as well as strengthening community connections are professional highlights for her. She has over 25 years as an educator in early childhood and elementary classrooms. Maggie has a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College, an M.Ed. from Bank Street College of Education, and has attended the Friends Council on Education’s Institute for Engaging Leadership in Friends Schools. On the personal side, Maggie is the mother of two high school children.
Maggie’s enthusiasm for early childhood education, her commitment to Quaker values, her understanding of our mission as a school to join play with academics, and her eagerness to learn and grow, make her the Head of School who can lead us toward our strategic goals. As she has said, “I believe in knowing kids fully, all of who they are, and utilizing this knowledge alongside dynamic curricula to help children reach their full potential as learners and community members.”
Donna Lynch, Assistant Head of School & Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Donna holds a Master’s Degree in Reading from Holy Family University, a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Bloomsburg University, and Elementary Certification from Holy Family University. Donna has been teaching Pre-Kindergarten at GFS since 2015. In 2017, Donna assumed the role of Curriculum Coordinator, working as a mentor to all of our teachers. In 2022, her role expanded as she was named the Assistant Head of School.
Donna’s background includes experience working as an Elementary Learning Support Teacher in both Central Bucks and Bristol Township School Districts. She believes that our young children learn best through play and creates opportunities for inquiry both in the classroom and in our outdoor spaces. Donna has a passion for helping her Pre-Kindergarteners grow intellectually, emotionally and socially. Her classroom setting is inviting, nurturing and provides a structure for kids to explore and learn. She is certified in Learning Without Tears – Readiness and Writing, Language and Literacy, and Numbers and Math.
As Assistant Head of School and Curriculum Coordinator, Donna works with both individual teachers and group-level teaching teams to develop, implement and evaluate the School’s curriculum on an ongoing basis. She supports teachers and serves as a coach in the matter of classroom management and teaching methods. She coordinates the School’s afternoon programming and works closely with the Head of School on managing the daily operations of GFS. Donna has served on the PAIS Steering Committee and has participated in professional development opportunities with NAIS, PAIS and Friends Council on Education. Her son, Ryan, is a graduate of GFS.
Justine Sannini, Director of Admissions
Justine Sannini has held many development and fundraising positions both professionally and through various volunteer roles. Through these roles, she was able to oversee and lead initiatives to strengthen programs and communities. One of her favorite volunteer roles was with the Parents Serving the Community group right here at Gwynedd Friends. Justine studied mathematics at Penn State University. She is the parent of two Gwynedd Friends School graduates.
Justine is excited to help families through the enrollment process and develop future generations of students and supporters.
Gail Crane, Business Manager
Gail Crane has worked for over 28 years in small independent schools. Prior to GFS, she was the Assistant Head for Finance and Operations for The Quaker School at Horsham, a Quaker school for children with complex learning disabilities. Gail has a BA from Temple University and a MS from Saint Joseph’s University in Human Resource Management. Gail is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
Gail is the Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Branch of the International Dyslexia Association - a nonprofit organization that champions individuals with dyslexia and all students who struggle to learn to read. For many years she served on the PAISBOA board (Philadelphia Area Independent Schools Business Association) and was the 2018 recipient of their John Batley award for her work and dedication to the independent school community.
Rena Klein, Office Coordinator
Rena Klein studied Spanish and Latin American Studies both in undergraduate school at Rutgers University and in graduate school at the University of New Mexico. She spent 10 years in the hospitality industry as a consultant, often traveling world-wide establishing relationships with people of all cultures and nationalities. More recently, she has taken on leadership roles as a parent in the local preschools and elementary schools her daughters attended.
Rena joined Gwynedd Friends School in 2021, and loves working with all the wonderful teachers, students, and families.
