When Jana Gunby ’02 was looking at schools for her two children, Hart and Cal, she knew she wanted them to love it as much as she loved her time at Abington Friends School. When they finally settled on a school, it wasn’t just like AFS—it was AFS.

“As a parent with biracial children, I was drawn back to AFS because I had heard that they were working hard to make diversity a priority,” Jana explains. “My husband had attended public school, but after visiting AFS for our own children, we saw how successful their efforts were in creating a more diverse community than the public schools in our area. We both have a background in education and felt strongly about protecting childhood. We believed that AFS allowed kids to be kids while still challenging them academically and nurturing their natural instincts to learn.”

Across all of her responsibilities as a mother, yoga instructor, and mindfulness teacher, Jana is an educator. Jana went on to attend James Madison University and Temple University’s Urban Education program. Before founding Heartwell Yoga, Jana taught kindergarten in public schools for almost a decade. It was during her teaching that she began to use skills she developed during her yoga practice and realized how beneficial these tools were to her students. 

In fact, Jana is a yoga teacher in part inspired by her time at a Friends school. She really appreciated that AFS designated time for quiet and silence, allowing students to slow down and be present. Jana’s children’s and family yoga classes focus on bringing yoga into schools, preschools, libraries and community events. She found that combining her love for teaching and passion for yoga brought great joy and success. Jana has incorporated literacy and movement by using the imagery of children’s books to honor the roots of her yoga practice through storytelling. “We want them to understand who they are in all ways and how they contribute to a community.”

Being back on campus, Jana was curious about how much things had changed. One thing that stood out was how the curriculum connected all threads of learning, from the sciences to the arts, making education engaging for their children. AFS also emphasizes spending time outdoors in nature in all ways, which was important to her family. But above all, she loves how everyone in the community works hard to help the students to develop a strong sense of self and find their place at the school. 

Looking back on her experiences with AFS, Jana has many fond memories of traditions like silence and seasonal celebrations such as Arbor Day and the Maypole. Even the simple act of walking to Meeting each week is a fond memory that she holds dear. Jana still maintains connections with people like former AFS English teacher Mary Lynn Ellis, who attended her wedding and baby showers. Jana fondly recalls holding hands with her classmates during morning meetings in Middle School, a tradition that continues today. 

“It’s a beautiful reminder of the bond that we form with our classmates and teachers during our time here,” Jana says. “AFS still feels like home because of the people here. Not every school makes building relationships between students and staff a priority, but AFS makes the time and space to allow for those connections.” 

Today, Jana and her husband Shannon are both active volunteers at AFS. As a co-clerk on the Community Cares Committee, Jana has helped to organize and deliver meals, gift cards and collected items to families in our community that may be experiencing hard times or are in need of support. Jana has held several adult and family yoga classes for our families. Both participate in many Lower School events and love to share in seasonal celebrations both with the classrooms and the adult community.  

Looking to the future, Jana and her family are excited to see AFS’s continued commitment to diversity and experiential learning opportunities. She greatly hopes that AFS will continue to maintain the traditions she remembers so vividly while it moves into the future so that her children will be able to experience them the way she did.

“As a parent, there’s no better feeling than knowing that your child is safe, happy, and learning in an environment that feels like home,” says Jana. “We’re grateful for AFS and the invaluable experience it’s provided for our family.”