Friends Council on Education
2025 Leadership in Service to Friends Education Award

will be presented to
Richard Nourie 
on
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Annual Meeting, Award Presentation & Reception
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Historic Arch Street Meeting House
320 Arch Street
Philadelphia PA 19106

Friends Council on Education Recognizes Richard Nourie with the Friends Council Leadership in Service to Friends Education Award

In his role as head of school at Abington Friends School for 19 years, Rich Nourie ensured that equality, valuing individual gifts in the community, inquiry-based learning, and social justice were suffused throughout the school. Quaker principles and practices were visible in the classroom, in the hallways, on the playing fields, and on the stage. Every decision held students at its center and was spirit-led. 

Rich has served as a valued mentor to many people who have gone on to be heads of Quaker schools or assumed other major roles in Friends education. He supports heads of color and champions diversifying the leadership within the Friends school network.

Rich embraces spiritual language to describe the nature and aims of Friends education. His words have been grounding, taking discernment to deeper levels. His words have been uplifting, encouraging students, parents, faculty, and colleagues to seek a higher purpose.