Honoring Christine Koniezhny, Upper School Assistant Principal for Academics

Photograph by Ruben Smith '27 of Christine and partner Danny

A letter from Head of School Christian Donovan to our community.

Dear Friends, 

It is with deep sadness that I share that our colleague and friend, Upper School Assistant Principal for Academics Christine Koniezhny, passed away quietly early this morning (March 2, 2026) after her courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). She was together with her beloved partner, Danny, at the time.

There are no right words for a loss like this. Christine was not only a gifted teacher, educator, and leader, but also a steady presence, a generous colleague, and a beloved member of the Friends School family. For 18 years, she poured her wisdom and humor into this community–first as a teacher to countless young people studying French, and then as an assistant principal, where she proudly supported the growth of her colleagues. Every one of us was buoyed by her insights, her high standards, and her quiet, devoted support.

Christine’s impact at Friends, though, cannot only be measured by her skill as a teacher and as an administrator. Christine was also a builder. She built schedules that held together the intricate life of the Upper School. She strengthened our academic programs. She protected our school culture with a quiet vigilance, often saving many of us from missteps simply by asking the right question at the right time.

To work alongside Christine was to be both supported and challenged. She held high standards for herself and for others. She believed that excellence was an expression of care, and she believed that relationships mattered as much as measurable outcomes. Christine sewed those beliefs into the fabric of Friends School, stitch by stitch, conversation by conversation. So much of what works here, works because Christine cared enough to make it so.

In this final chapter of her life, Christine modeled courage. She participated in research that may one day ease the suffering of others facing ALS, and she continued to offer her time and love to her colleagues and students alike. Simply put, she kept showing up. Her decision to stay engaged, to keep contributing, to keep connecting, was a profound act of generosity to the School she loved–and to all of us.

We will feel Christine’s absence in countless ways: in the quiet of her office, in faculty meetings where her insights steadied the room, in the careful choreography of a master schedule, in the anticipation of a trip to France that she once led. But we will also feel her presence in the systems she built, the teachers she mentored, the students whose lives she expanded, and the culture she helped protect. We will feel her presence in how we each choose to live our days.

Please join me in holding in the Light Christine’s devoted partner, Danny, her brother Todd, and the many friends, colleagues, and students who have loved her. We will share information soon about how we will gather as a community to honor Christine’s life.

For now, we grieve. And we give thanks for the gift of having walked alongside her.

Sincerely, 

Christian Donovan
Head of School

Quaker Quill Tribute Article

I invite you to read a special tribute by our Upper School student journalists. Over the past several months, under the guidance and care of faculty members Mary Wiltenburg and Amber Wagner Gaines, they have worked thoughtfully to produce a profile honoring Christine’s life, her many contributions to Friends, and her courageous battle with ALS. It is a beautiful reflection of her impact on this community and a testament to the care of the students she inspired.

“Always Learning” - Quaker Quill Profile on Christine Koniezhny 
(Note that this article is best viewed on a computer)