Embedded Files
Trex Proffitt (he/him)
Trex Proffitt (he/him)
Trex is a part of our Middle School team, teaching Math and History.
"My name is Trex Proffitt and I've served as a professor at F&M, Muhlenberg College, Emory University, and the University of California. After a career in higher education, I became a middle school teacher in 2016. My family and I have lived in Lancaster since 2005. My wife works as a house dean at F&M, my daughter is a rising senior at F&M, and my son is entering his first year at Yale.
I love teaching middle school students because their growing brains are as capable as they'll ever be, but they also are young and playful, so they have fun while they learn.
Fun fact: I've walked across a bed of hot coals twice in my life. It was easier than teaching. I'm a level 1 squash coach and have been coaching and organizing squash since 1995."
James Jolles
James Jolles
James teaches science to students in grades 4-8, as well as math for Middle School.
Jane Walsh
Jane teaches Upper Elementary, 4th-6th grade.
jwalsh@lancasterfriends.org
I am excited to join Lancaster Friends School as the next step in my 30-plus-year journey as a teacher. I have a degree in Elementary Education from American University with a Minor in Jewish Studies. I left teaching in the late 1990s to follow another of my passions, cooking, and started my own catering business. I was a caterer and personal chef for three years. The Quaker philosophy I was educated with during my high school years at Friends Select and the humanistic approach towards education found at Project Learn School (where I taught for 16 years) inform the classroom environment I work to create with my students. I view myself as a facilitator of and partner in student learning and strive to make learning both meaningful and fun. Most recently, I spent seven years at the United Friends School, where I created a thematic project-based program for my 4th & 5th-grade classroom. Outside of school, I can usually be found running, hiking, reading, playing with my dogs and cats, cooking, or watching football. I am a dedicated endurance athlete specializing in ultramarathon distances and a passionate Philadelphia Eagles fan.
Victoria Carty (she/they)
Victoria Carty (she/they)
Victoria works with all students K-8 teaching Spanish and Health, and is the DEIJ Coordinator.
I graduated from F&M in 2022 with a B.A. in Public Health and Spanish, completing a lengthy educational career studying Spanish starting in first grade, and have been working with LFS since the planning stages. I've spent most of my time working with children and youth in various capacities: teaching, tutoring, babysitting, nannying, childcare, SkyZone, and I love experiencing the world through fresh eyes. I have always loved working with kids and hearing what they have to say. They are some of the best people to talk to! It's such a win for everyone when a student has that moment of realization about a new concept and begins to manipulate it in their own way. I am always honored to be a part of a child's life; every moment is so precious!
Outside of teaching, I spend lots of time with my cat, Goose, playing video games with friends, listening to music, reading, and thinking about the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jen Brace
Jen Brace
jbrace@lancasterfriends.org
Jen is our Early Elementary (1st-3rd grade) classroom teacher.
My name is Jen Brace and I am excited to be joining the Lancaster Friends School as the Early Elementary teacher for the upcoming school year! I graduated from Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College with my degree in Elementary Education and soon after, I moved to Lancaster to work at the Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning. This past year, I worked at Conrad Weiser West Elementary as a long-term substitute in first and fourth grade and as a building substitute in every grade K-4 and special education.
Outside of teaching, I like to spend time Irish dancing, working on local theater productions, and watching bad movies with my friends. I am thrilled to be a part of the Lancaster Friends School, since its values and mission align with my personal beliefs about education and I hope to provide a supportive, fun, inclusive environment for my students to learn and grow this year!
Nichole (Nikky) Madonna (she/her)
Nichole (Nikky) Madonna (she/her)
Nikky works with all students K-8 teaching Art.
I am a 2D and 3D visual artist and passionate art instructor in Lancaster, PA. My current artistic focus lies in the exploration of color, texture, and movement, infusing my works with an enchanting sense of life and emotion.
I started my studio practice in 2010 after graduating from PA College of Art and Design with a BFA in Fine Arts. I began working with kids in 2017 and offering private and community-driven creative workshops. Since 2018, I have been nurturing budding talents as an instructor at PCAD's Center for Creative Exploration in Lancaster, PA as well as Lancaster Reading Solutions MicroSchool in Lancaster, PA since 2023.
Beyond my artistic endeavors, I try to embrace the joy of motherhood while raising three playful, curious kids, advocating for public libraries, and exploring in nature in all of our four seasons. My strong belief in the universal potential for art-making and its positive impact on mental health fuels my dedication to inspire others, and I can’t wait to see what the families at Lancaster Friends School teach me.
Connection and expression are at the heart of what makes music
meaningful. I love the way instrumental music can express ideas and
feelings beyond words and the way music with words can express deep
values. The beauty and simplicity of being able to make music anywhere,
without any equipment, makes the voice a fantastic instrument! And the
variety of timbres different instruments can create make all instruments
fascinating to me. Moving to music brings additional joy, and learning
about others through music is especially gratifying. This is why vocal
music, instrumental music, folk dance and cultural connections are all
strong parts of our curriculum. It is every child’s right to be lovingly
guided to experience music making from an early age.
I earned a BS in Music Education from Gettysburg College and had several teaching positions prior to raising a family. My interests include reading as
well as contra dance and singing in informal groups whenever
possible. My family and I live in Annville.
Lili Fernandez (she/her)
Lili Fernandez (she/her)
Lili teaches Primary (K4/K5)
I graduated from Goucher College (Go Gophers!) in Baltimore, Maryland, where I discovered my love for creativity and teaching. I was lucky enough to be a teaching assistant for ceramics, a TV studio, and a data analytics class, which deepened my passion for education. Before that, I attended a Quaker school from kindergarten through 12th grade, where I learned the importance of peace, reflection, and the belief that there’s a light within each of us.
During high school, I embraced leadership as a class officer for three years and as a member of the Quaker Leadership Committee. These experiences taught me the value of community and the power of working together.
Teaching runs in my family, and I’m excited to carry on that tradition. I love thinking outside the box and look forward to helping students do the same, making learning a fun and creative adventure. When I’m not teaching, you can usually find me thrifting
my next favorite coffee mug, in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, doodling quirky characters, or behind the camera lens, capturing memories from my travels to places like Paris, Spain, Cuba, and Mexico.
I can’t wait to connect with each of you and grow together as part of this wonderful community!
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