Carsten Brodbeck serves as the Junior High and Upper Elementary Science and Math Teacher at Lancaster Friends School. Carsten graduated from Dickinson College in 2025, and is excited to begin his career as an educator. He previously served as an assistant at LFS during the 2024-2025 school year. Carsten believes that Lancaster Friends School offers an amazing education, and appreciates the strong and enriching LFS community. Carsten hopes to inspire his students to be passionate about science and math topics, and he wishes to foster curiosity and critical thinking skills which can be applied to all aspects of life.

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!

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.

Harrison is very excited to be joining the Lancaster Friends School as a teacher of American history and civics! After graduating from Yale in 2024 with degrees in Humanities and Economics, Harrison spent the last two years teaching English at a rural public high school in Anhui, China. During summers in college, Harrison interned for the U.S. Senate and did research for public policy think tanks in D.C. In 2022, he and his best friend co-founded an international liberal arts summer academy in Jeju, South Korea. They have since operated the academy for five years, in Korea and in the U.S. Outside of teaching, Harrison gets a lot of joy from running, reading, admiring Lancaster architecture, and watching great movies.

Lead Preschool Teacher

jruhl@lancasterfriends.org

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Elizabethtown College. My Master of Education degree is in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Children’s Literature from the Pennsylvania State University. My mother is a retired preschool teacher. As soon as I was old enough, I helped my mother make activities for school and volunteered in her classroom, kindling my passion for Early Childhood Education at a young age.

I am thrilled to be a part of Lancaster Friends School! I appreciate its commitment to cultural and religious diversity, and providing a quality education while serving the community. From childhood, I was taught that we all have an inner light and that continues to guide me.

When I am not teaching, you can find me traveling with my husband/partner, reading, writing/blogging about preschool education/children’s literature, thrifting, exploring restaurants, checking out art galleries, and listening/singing to music. I volunteer for the Keystone State Literacy Association’s DEIB committee and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster’s religious education program.

Teacher K4/5 Classroom

bhegenbarth@lancasterfriends.org

Brooke graduated from Susquehanna University in 2023 with a degree in history and a minor in French. Brooke discovered their love for teaching as an English assistant in France. On returning to the States, Brooke found that they loved teaching young kids while being an assistant in daycare and classroom settings. They are now excited to be stepping up into the lead teacher role of the primary 4/5  classroom. Brooke is also excited to start their Montessori training and having a Montessori classroom. 

Having grown up in the Quaker community and attending Quaker school, they are excited to continue to work and be a part of a Quaker school such as Lancaster Friends School. LFS provides a caring, close knit environment which allows students to grow and feel safe. 

When they’re not in the classroom, you can find Brooke enjoying a good book, hiking with their partner, or watching a movie while snacking on some popcorn.

Preschool Assistant Teacher

My name is Molly van Rooyen and I’m thrilled to be joining the Pre-K team at LFS this year. I graduated from Flagler College with degrees in Special Education and Early Elementary Education. Over the years, I have learned to create lessons that stick with students as they grow. I enjoy incorporating music, art, and elements of nature as much as possible. This pedagogy paired with an emphasis on teaching good values is what makes LFS such a special place.

When I’m not with the little ones, I enjoy reading, writing picture books, going on hikes, and advocating for a better tomorrow. I can’t wait to work with new change makers of Lancaster this year!

Meghan McLane is thrilled to be back in a classroom! Meghan is a lifelong educator and learner. She has her B.A. of Early Childhood/Elementary Education and her Masters of Education Degree from Millersville University, plus many credits toward her doctorate from University of Georgia. Meghan has been a teacher of young children for over 33 years, most of those decades in a Montessori classroom.  Meghan believes fully that teaching children peace is the most direct and significant path to actual world peace.  Meghan is a fashion fanatic and a dancer who loves Philadelphia sports teams! In her free time she reads, dances, styles people, and teaches tons of local adult movement classes (think Pilates, Barre, Dance... ). Her husband is a family physician, her daughter is a therapist in Philadelphia, and her son is a senior at University of Pennsylvania. Meghan is very happy to be here!!! 

Preschool Co-Teacher

Ashley is thrilled to be joining the Lancaster Friends School as a Preschool Teacher! She recently obtained her teaching certification in PreK-4th grade after completing the post-bachelorette program at Millersville University. Her passion for education has been a common thread throughout her career. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and has previously worked as a family-based and outpatient therapist, focusing on supporting the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. 

Ashley most recently worked as a garden educator, where she facilitated project-based learning centered around students growing their own food, taking ownership of real-world projects, and working in collaboration as good stewards of the land.

Ashley also has three years of experience working as a substitute teacher with kindergarten through third grade. As a teacher, she finds enjoyment in students’ curiosity and excitement for learning and strives to create an inclusive classroom environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued. Some of Ashley’s hobbies include running, gardening, hiking, and hosting gatherings with her friends and family.