Pre-K Team
Donna Lynch
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.
Lauren Grace
Lauren Grace holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Gordon College in English Language and Literature. Her background includes working for many years at a small independent bookstore, working in floral design, and participating in social justice activism-where she was first introduced to Quaker values.
While raising her own young children, Lauren worked as an assistant preschool teacher and ran her own home-based preschool program. She is inspired by the educational philosophies of the Waldorf School, Reggio Emilia, Montessori, and Mr. Rogers. Lauren believes children learn best through play and being led by their own sense of wonder and curiosity.
Outside of school Lauren enjoys gardening, knitting, baking, and reading. She lives in the Pennypack woods with her husband, four children, dog, cat, crested gecko and six chickens.
Cheri Kaliner
Cheri holds a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from The American University and a Bachelor's Degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She joined the teaching staff at GFS in the fall of 2017 as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher.
Cheri began her career teaching 5th grade and then Kindergarten in the Philadelphia area. While raising her young daughters, she remained active in the field of education as a reading and math tutor for elementary school-aged students. As her children became more independent, Cheri began to substitute teach in the Wissahickon School District. Thereafter, she returned to teaching full time, starting with the kindergarten program at Tiferet Bet Israel in Blue Bell, before finding her niche teaching Pre-Kindergarten.
For Cheri, providing a nurturing and caring classroom, where each child feels valued and self-confident, is paramount to her teaching. She has a passion for children's literature and leads two of the Enrichment classes at GFS.
Ann Kaplan
Ann holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Philadelphia University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She joined the teaching staff at Gwynedd Friends School in the fall of 2017.
Ann began her career in Marketing and Management. Once her children were born, she retired from the corporate world and began to volunteer with a number of school programs, such as Art Goes to School. In 2007, Ann began volunteering for the Early Childhood Education Center at Tiferet Bet Israel. Ann also participated the Lasko fellowship program, which specializes in working with children with special needs. As a result, she was invited to run training sessions for the rest of the TBI staff. Ann was subsequently hired as an Assistant Teacher at the ECEC at TBI in 2011.
Ann believes that the classroom environment should be child-centered with a play-based curriculum. She feels that it is important to meet children where they are, developmentally, and to nurture their self-confidence. Most of all, Ann believes in a strong arts program as her philosophy is that children learn best through art, music, and self-expression. Ann leads the Art Enrichment at Gwynedd Friends School and spent years curating the yearly art show for the ECEC at TBI.
Kira Martz
Kira holds a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from George Washington University and a BA in Psychology from Allegheny College. She joined the teaching staff at GFS in the fall of 2026 as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher.
Kira began her career teaching ECE Special Education in Washington, D.C., and continued teaching in Philadelphia's Head Start program. She then worked in leadership at the Head Start program with the Delaware County Intermediate Unit until having her children. She became a part of the GFS community when her son started in play group and is excited to join the PreK Team as a teacher.
Kira works hard to provide a safe, comfortable and caring classroom environment where all children feel able to take risks and grow.
Pam Nauen
Pam Nauen holds a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College and has completed course and field work in elementary education at Bank Street College of Education. While living in Hawaii, she worked as family literacy specialist for Hawaii Literacy with the goal of helping parents to prepare their young children for school. She established a toy and book library at Mayor Wright public housing development in Honolulu, as well as a little red wagon traveling library which brought books and literacy activities to doorsteps. After having children, Pam worked as a volunteer librarian at Global Leadership Academy West in Philadelphia.
Pam joined Gwynedd Friends this year as a Pre-K assistant teacher. She takes great pleasure in discovering who each child is and how they see the world. She strives to create a classroom environment in which children feel safe, valued and supported as they explore their world, connect with their community and follow their curiosity.
When she is not in the classroom, Pam loves to bike, read, travel and spend time with her family.
Diane Neubauer
Diane joins Gwynedd Friends School, bringing several years of experience in early elementary education and a deep commitment to joyful, play-based learning. She holds a degree in Elementary Education from Cabrini University and has a strong foundation in child development and collaborative teaching practices.
Most recently, Diane served as an Associate Kindergarten Teacher at Germantown Academy, where she helped foster students’ academic growth and social-emotional development through hands-on, developmentally appropriate experiences. She also took time away from the classroom to stay home with her two children, an experience that further enriched her understanding of young learners and strengthened her passion for early childhood education.
Diane is excited to be part of the Gwynedd Friends School community, where she shares in the mission to nurture confident, curious learners in a loving and inclusive environment.
Jen Elder
Jen Elder holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Villanova University and a Master's Certificate in Human Resources Management from West Chester University. She began her career at a human resources consulting and research firm in Washington, D.C., where she discovered her passion for helping people learn and grow. That passion eventually led her to pursue a career in education, serving as both a full-time substitute teacher and Pre-Kindergarten teacher at The Country Day School in McLean, Virginia.
After taking time away from the classroom to raise her two daughters, Jen returned to education with a deeper appreciation for the unique needs of young learners. Prior to joining Gwynedd Friends School, she worked as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher at Small Wonders at Temple Judea and as an Instructional Assistant in the Central Bucks School District.
Jen was drawn to Gwynedd Friends School because of its play-based philosophy, connection to nature, and commitment to nurturing the whole child. She believes children learn best when they feel safe, welcomed, and free to explore the world through play, questions, and discovery. She strives to create an environment where every child feels valued for exactly who they are and develops confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning.
Outside of school, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, walking her dogs, taking Barre3 classes, and reading mystery novels.
