Our staff is made up of 18 professionals who each have years of experience working with young children. Head teachers and assistants are well-versed in guiding students in nonviolent conflict resolution, which is a focal point of each child’s social and emotional development throughout their time at Swarthmore Friends Nursery School. Teachers set the stage in each classroom for a school year full of friendship, learning, and exploration.
KATE WINWARD
Director
I discovered Swarthmore Friends Nursery School in 2007 while looking for a preschool for my daughter. In the years since I’ve been an SFNS parent, volunteer, teacher, and now the Director. The constant during that time has been just how magical I find our school!
Amie Spanier
Assistant Teacher, Pre-K 3’s
Before joining SFNS, I worked as a Teacher Assistant at the Art of Growing Nursery School and St. Matthew’s Preschool. I adore the children’s excitement that they bring each day to school and the opportunity to watch them flourish during the school year. When I’m not traveling to watch one of my 3 boys play ice hockey, I enjoy our family time in Ship Bottom, NJ and visiting my mom in Cape May, NJ.
Lisa Wallace
Head Teacher
Pre-K 4's AM class
I have had the pleasure of working with young children for over 25 years. I continually delight in children’s exploration and discoveries. I love the enthusiasm they express when they are able to accomplish a challenging task or discover something new.
Beth camagna
Head Teacher Pre-K 4’s AM class
I have coordinated and presented a variety of programming for preschool and schooI age children for 30 years. Most recently I led a kindergarten enrichment program and taught art to preschoolers. I am a graduate of Hussian School of Art and completed classes at The Barnes Foundation. I especially enjoy guiding children through the process of making art, delighting in their abilities, and the discoveries they make about themselves along the way.
AJ Goff
Assistant Teacher
Joined SFNS in 2018
LYN GOFF
Head Teacher Pre-K 5’s
Many years ago all four of my children attended Swarthmore Friends. I actually started teaching in the Pre-K class over 20 years ago when my youngest was in the four year old class. I took a short break from SFNS and taught Kindergarten in Chester for 5 years.
JENN D’AMBROsiO
Assistant Teacher
My journey at Swarthmore Friends began over 10 years ago. I take great pleasure and joy from working with young children.
Kim Peichel
Head Teacher
Kindergarten Enrichment
I am thrilled to be spending my days with kindergarteners once again. While I may be new to Swarthmore Friends, I am not new to kindergarten. I taught first grade and kindergarten in the Wallingford- Swarthmore School District for twenty years.
Kathy Healy
Assistant Teacher
As I have spent over 20 years at Swarthmore Friends, you could say I am an “oldie”, but hopefully also considered a “goodie”. My education includes Bloomberg University and Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences. I love teaching preschool because we are usually children’s first school experience and we can lay the groundwork for a love of learning.
KIM SCOTT
Art Teacher
My background is in illustration and design. Before teaching pre-school I was a decorative painter and mural artist. I have been lucky enough to work with children of all ages doing various forms of art from the Fifth Grade Art Project at SRS to helping children paint murals with Philadelphia Mural Arts. One of my favorite things to observe is the look of pure joy when a child looks at a blank piece of paper that has been transformed into something amazing.