Plymouth Meeting Friends School Welcomes Matthew Bradley as the Two-Year Interim Head of School.

The School Committee of Plymouth Meeting Friends School is delighted to announce the appointment of Matthew Bradley as the Two-Year Interim Head of School, succeeding Brenda Crawley, starting on July 1st, 2025. Following a comprehensive and thoughtful search process, which included candidates from across the country, the Interim Head of School Search Committee recommended Matt for this role. His extensive leadership experience, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to education, coupled with his deep understanding of Quaker values, make him the ideal choice to lead our school through this transitional period.

Matt brings over thirty years of experience in K-12 independent school education to PMFS, including more than twenty years as a Head of School. He currently serves as the Head of School at Friends School Mullica Hill, a position he has held for the past seven years. This will be the fifth school Matt has served, with four of those roles being as head of school, since beginning his career 36 years ago. Matt's journey in education began as a third and fourth grade teacher at Friends Academy on Long Island.

Matt captured the characteristics the Search Committee sought in an Interim Head of School: a collaborative and thoughtful leader with a deep commitment to fostering Quaker principles in education.  “Matt entered the search process with exceptional qualifications that highlighted the key qualities the search committee had identified as crucial in an applicant. Matt’s educational background and training are rooted in his commitment to Quaker education and leadership,” said Nicole Armstrong, Clerk of the Interim Head of School Search Committee.

Matt completed the Heads of School Fellowship Program at the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. With that, he holds a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, further solidifying his strong academic foundation.

Matt’s dedication to service is impressive. He currently serves as the Clerk of the Finance Committee with the Friends Council on Education and is also a member of the Governance Committee at Delaware Valley Friends School.  Matt’s previous service work includes significant contributions in various leadership and governance roles. He has served on the board of the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, on the Head Support and Evaluation Committee at Friends School Mullica Hill, as well as on the Governance and Head Support and Evaluation Committees at Harbor Country Day School. Additionally, Matt has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Oyster Bay Main Street Association and Tanguy Homesteads, where he also held the position of Vice-President. Matt has also chaired the Community Philanthropic Committee for the Rotary Club of West Chester.

Those who have worked closely with Matt enthusiastically describe him as “an embodiment of Quaker values.” They also highlight that “he understands what high quality and high standards look like for academics, and is an excellent ambassador for the school both internally and externally (families, neighborhood, donors, other schools). He is well respected by faculty, families, and the Board.”

Matt and his wife, Melinda, reside in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and belong to West Chester Friends Meeting. They are the proud parents of three children: Ellie, James, and William.

As we look toward the future, the search committee will ensure a comprehensive transition process that will allow Matt to acclimate to our school community. In the meantime, let's take this opportunity to honor and appreciate Brenda for her dedicated service while also congratulating Matt on his appointment as Interim Head of School. We look forward to working together to fulfill the mission of Plymouth Meeting Friends School.

In peace and appreciation,

Nicole Armstrong, Clerk of the Interim Head of School Search Committee, Assistant Clerk of the Plymouth Meeting Friends School Committee

Jeff Markovitz, Clerk of Plymouth Meeting Friends School Committee, Assistant Clerk of the Interim Head of School Search Committee

A Message from Matthew Bradley

It is an honor to have been invited to serve as the Interim Head of Plymouth Meeting Friends
School for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity
and excited to join the Plymouth community in July.

PMFS is the fifth school I will have served -- four of them as head of school -- since beginning
my career 36 years ago. I started out as a third and fourth grade teacher at Friends Academy
on Long Island, which is also where I met my wife, Melinda, a teacher who now serves as a
religious education consultant. We are the proud parents of three young adults. Ellie (23)
teaches at Mary McDowell Friends School in Brooklyn, James (21) is a junior at the University of
Notre Dame, and William (17) is a senior at Westtown School. Our children were fortunate to
attend Quaker schools from preschool through 12th grade and we, as their parents, are true
believers in the value of Friends education!

I have been familiar with PMFS for many years through my work in Friends schools and have
been impressed “from the outside looking in” by the unique experiences it offers such as the
Circus and the Mexican Exchange Program. As I engaged in the search process over the past
few months and met so many members of the Plymouth community, I gained an even deeper
appreciation for this school that values the wonder of childhood and provides a firm foundation
for lifelong learning, clearly lives its Quaker identity, and nurtures strong and lasting
relationships. I look forward to learning even more from the people who are at the heart of the
Plymouth community as I get to know the students, collaborate with the faculty and staff, and
engage with families (and the bees!) after I arrive this summer.

In the meantime, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude once again to the School Community
for offering this opportunity and wish you all the best for the remainder of the school year.

In peace,

Matt Bradley