After a national search, Penn Charter is excited to announce the appointment of Kathleen Clinchy as our new director of Middle School, effective July 1, 2025.
An accomplished educator and innovative, supportive leader with 17 years of experience working with Middle School students, Kathleen comes to Penn Charter after a distinguished career at Brooklyn Friends School, where she served as Middle School assistant head and Middle School dean of students. With her background as a fifth grade humanities teacher and eighth grade English teacher, Kathleen has a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in Middle School education.
Kathleen has dedicated her career to fostering a dynamic learning environment where students thrive academically, socially and emotionally. As Middle School assistant head, she supported teachers in curriculum development, formative assessment, data analysis and classroom management, ensuring that instructional strategies and curricular opportunities aligned with Middle School pedagogy. Kathleen also oversaw the Middle School advisory program and worked with department chairs on instructional coaching and vertical alignment across departments.
Kathleen has spent the majority of her career in Quaker education. She shared, “Friends education is ‘home’ for me, and I see my core values truly aligned with those at Penn Charter. It is essential that the school I call home is also dedicated to reflection, identity work, belonging and joy.”
In the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, Kathleen is described as “uncompromising.” She worked closely with the DEI and civic engagement departments to ensure the mission and goals were effectively implemented across the curriculum, advisory program and affinity groups in the Middle School. “Education at its best should allow access, power and opportunity for all children,” Kathleen shared.
As Middle School dean of students, Kathleen played a pivotal role in supporting the development and well-being of all students. She collaborated closely with faculty, leadership and the student support team to ensure each student was both supported and challenged. In her role, she oversaw student discipline, supervised grading processes and introduced and implemented several new initiatives, including Response to Intervention, Restorative Justice, Standards Based Grading and Culturally Responsive Teaching, all aimed at enhancing student support, behavior and school expectations.
Kathleen received a Master of Education in supervision and administration from Fordham University and a Master of Arts in education, with a certification in early childhood education, from Pace University. She graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, where she was a John Marshall Scholar and on the Dean’s List.
Throughout this search process, we sought a leader who could inspire a strong sense of community, nurture meaningful relationships and champion the academic, social and emotional growth of every Middle School student. We envisioned a candidate who values diverse perspectives, actively listens and incorporates those voices into their strategic vision. From the start, we believed the ideal leader would bring fresh, evidence-based educational strategies while remaining true to Penn Charter’s core Quaker values. And, importantly, we sought someone with empathy, integrity and a deep commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion. This leader would empower both students and faculty, sparking collaboration, growth and innovation in a community where every individual is seen, valued and supported. We are confident that we have found this friend and leader in Kathleen.
Crissy Cáceres, Head of Brooklyn Friends School, described Kathleen as “a vibrant light who leads with a deep centering on the importance of care and belonging for students and adults alike. She injects a joyous and focused energy into all that she does, never compromising a values-informed lens in the process. Penn Charter is getting a wonderful soul, and I know that she is gaining a beautiful Quaker community in return.”
In anticipation of her new role, Kathleen shared, “I am beyond thrilled to join the Penn Charter family as the next director of Middle School! To educate is an act of love, and I am both humbled and excited to do this work with and for such a joyful, collaborative, and committed community of learners and teachers. I look forward to witnessing and uplifting the ways each of our students, colleagues and families' stories and inner lights already shine.”
We are grateful for Wilson Felter's dedication to PC and his leadership as Director of Middle School for the last 11 years. We wish him well in his next chapter as Head of School at The Wyndcroft School, a pre-k through grade 8 coeducational private school in Pottstown, Pa.