2026 PAISBOA Service to the Flock Award Presented to Martha Scache of Abington Friends School

May 6, 2026 - PAISBOA's Service to the Flock Award, instituted in 2021, recognizes a member or contributor who has demonstrated excellence in their service to the PAISBOA flock. Through their exemplary professionalism and achievements, they have supported their colleagues while advancing the mission and goals of PAISBOA.

Martha Scache, Director of Business & Operations at Abington Friends School, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Service to the Flock Award.

For more than three decades, Martha Scache has embodied the spirit of service, leadership, and community that defines PAISBOA. Her career at Abington Friends School (AFS), paired with her deep and lasting involvement with PAISBOA and the PAISBOA Health Benefit Trust (HBT), reflects a rare combination of humility, dedication, and impact that has strengthened not only her school, but the broader independent school community.

It is for these reasons we the PAISBOA Board of Directors are pleased to present her with the 2026 Service to the Flock Award.

Martha’s path to PAISBOA began early in her tenure at AFS, when she was asked to explore group purchasing opportunities. “Debbie Stauffer, my boss at the time, asked me to explore joining PAISBOA on the group purchasing side of things,” she said. “So I met with Al Greenough and we ‘joined the flock.’

“I attended an Annual Meeting and I remember listening to Bob Mueller put out the call for volunteers for various committees,” she said. “I was interested in the HR side of schools and wanted to learn more about how health care operated, so I figured I’d volunteer for that.

“After the meeting, I approached Bob and Bob Connelly, the Chairman of the PAISHIG Technical Committee and said I wanted to offer my services. Bob Connelly was a very tall person, and I remember him peering down at me and saying something like, ‘well, we don’t usually just take volunteers for this committee, someone is supposed to nominate you based on your qualifications to serve in that capacity.’

“I wanted to shrink out of sight! In the end, they let me join and the learning began!”

That introduction quickly grew into a deep commitment. What began as participation evolved into active engagement, leadership, and ultimately transformative influence.

Martha’s most significant contributions to our Flock have been through her work with the PAISBOA Health Benefit Trust. She was the first official Chair of the Board, stepping into the role at a critical time in the organization’s development. By her own account, she may not have initially felt the most qualified — but she was willing, and that willingness proved invaluable.

“With the looming implementation of the ACA, we decided to formalize a group purchasing arrangement that would allow the smallest of our schools to be rated along with the larger schools, so we embarked on the process of getting state approval as a MEWA,“ she said. “I was on the board at that time, and I can honestly say that Bob Mueller had the vision and determination to get us through what was a very demanding and time-consuming process.

“There are a lot of people who depend on the work of the Trust and I like to think we built a strong foundation in those early years that is helping to keep things afloat against tremendous headwinds from the larger world.”

While the early years were not without difficulty, she Martha remained focused on building a strong, sustainable foundation that would ultimately benefit thousands of school employees.

Her leadership has spanned multiple eras at AFS, having worked under four Heads of School. She credits former Head Rich Nourie with recognizing her potential and mentoring her into leadership — an experience that shaped both her professional trajectory and her leadership philosophy. That foundation, combined with her strong partnership with current Head Dr. Nicole Hood, has allowed Martha to continue evolving as a leader while remaining grounded in the values of the AFS community.

“Over the course of Martha’s career she has gone above and beyond to support her colleagues,” said Michele Todd of The Haverford School, current chair of the HBT Board of Trustees. “Whether it's through her participation on the listserv, or her leadership at the Board level, Martha has been a trusted resource for so many of us.”

“During her tenure, Martha always built consensus among the Board members by encouraging us to consider what is best for each employee,” said Heather Gelting, HBT Executive Director. “Her past service to the flock will continue to benefit our birdies for many years into the future. WWMD = What Would Martha Do? I think of this often, as we work to provide the best benefits at the best price for our schools and their employees.”

Outside of her professional life, Martha finds joy in family, particularly in her role as “Grammy.” Becoming a grandmother has inspired her to explore new interests and embrace life with curiosity and creativity. She also enjoys walking (often with her dog), reading, and tackling New York Times word puzzles.

When asked what PAISBOA has meant to her career, and who has impacted it, Martha is unequivocal: it has been instrumental. “I know I may leave someone out,” she said. “But I do have my PAISBOA ‘heroes’ that I’ve always looked to as being excellent at what they do and that learning from them has been invaluable – Bob Mueller, Hal Davidow, Frank Aloise, Carolyn Hapeman, Joan Barone, Tom Taft, Heather Gelting, Cindy Nichols, Mike Noonan, Michele Todd … the list goes on and on.”

“But I think Rich Nourie specifically and the AFS community more broadly are mostly responsible for shaping who I am today. Rich as a person who led by example in a quiet, spiritually grounded way while holding me accountable for my mistakes, and the entire AFS community for just being the type of learning and caring community that it is. I feel as though I grew up here and I’m a better person for it.”

When asked what advice she would give to others considering involvement In PAISBOA and the Health Benefit Trust, her answer is simple: “Just do it. You won’t regret it!”

Martha Scache’s career is a powerful example of what it means to serve the flock. Through her leadership, generosity, and unwavering commitment to others, she has not only advanced the mission of PAISBOA but has also strengthened the entire community it represents.

Michele Todd said it best: “Martha’s commitment to the PAISBOA mantra of one for all and all for one, as well as her embodiment of the PAISBOA core values of integrity, transparency, and loyalty have made her a true role model in the independent school world.”