After having the privilege of teaching 4th grade at Greene Street Friends for the past four years, I am excited to continue to serve our community as the Dean for students in Grades 4-8. My education career began with middle school students in West Philadelphia and I am excited to get back to working with this age group again. 

The middle grades are truly a spectacular and joyful age group where young minds are eager and motivated to learn. These are pivotal years for cultivating their values and their true selves. This group of students is particularly special to me as I will be reunited with my inaugural class with this year’s rising 8th graders! To the 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students and families: many of us went through the heart of a pandemic together, a truly unforgettable experience. I feel honored to be serving 4th grade in a new manner now, as they become the leaders of lower school and grow into budding middle schoolers. 

There is no other community that I would rather serve going into this role than Germantown and Greene Street. I am grateful for my predecessor, Kiri Harris, and appreciate the incredible foundation that she has built for our Middle School Students. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn from her while also developing new programs. In fact, a goal of mine is to help cultivate students who will serve as leaders and take an active role in making meaningful contributions within their classrooms, grades, campus, and greater Germantown area. By developing stewards of our community at the local level, they will better understand the impact of their actions and learn to process the social issues affecting our country and our world. There is no doubt that the pandemic has shaken our way of life, but it has also brought an opportunity for us to rebuild that sense of community we had.  

 

This year, we are planning for a return to field trips, integrating new and existing community events, and ensuring the lines of communication stay open and clear. I am eager to work with the new teachers in our middle school that I know will bring a renewed sense of energy. I look forward to serving you with transparency and joy at the forefront. Please don’t hesitate to reach out as we all navigate together as a community and help to keep one another accountable.

Jane Ellis (she/her)