This month Marple Friends & Neighbors proudly introduces you to the Noll Family: Jen, Jason and Lianna Noll. Life for the Nolls is full of music, passion for education and a commitment to supporting the arts in the Marple Newtown community.
Jen grew up in Allentown with her parents and her younger sister. For as far back as she can remember, Jen wanted to be a teacher. It started with playing “school” as a young girl and then helping her mom with the daycare center she ran out of their home. Although Jen also considered the idea of being a nurse, after high school she went on to Kutztown University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Language Therapy followed by a Master’s in Education from Gratz College. Jen later earned a Certificate in Special Education from Immaculata College.
For 24 years Jen has worked for the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) as both a speech language therapist and a language classroom teacher. Today, she is a service coordinator for the DCIU. Jen’s current role entails helping develop Individualized Education Plans, writing evaluation reports and coordinating services between the DCIU, families and contracted service providers.
As the liaison between the special education teams and the parents, Jen is able to help parents of children between the ages of three and five years of age navigate what can often be a complicated special education process. “I really enjoy helping parents,” she said. “My job is never boring and I learn something new every day.”
Jason grew up with his parents and brother in Waynesboro, a small rural town in South Central PA. As a student at Waynesboro Area Senior High School he was involved in both instrumental and choral programs as well as musical theater. Jason said his love of music began at a young age when he heard the organ playing at his church. Originally interested in playing the pipe organ, Jason was encouraged to learn piano first for its versatility and he began taking lessons at age six. A diligent student, Jason continued studying piano twice a day; he learned to play the trumpet in 4th grade and then learned to play the organ in 7th grade.
In high school Jason had the opportunity to attend a Drum Major camp at West Chester University. It was during that time that Jason fell in love with the area and decided to pursue his college education at West Chester. While studying there he was a member of various ensembles and he worked right here in our community as the church organist and choir director at Christ United Methodist in Broomall. He also taught piano lessons at Dragonetti’s Music in Newtown Square. After earning his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Music Education in 1998, he furthered his education at Temple University with a Master’s in Music Education in 2007.
For more than 20 years, Jason has been an elementary/middle school music teacher in the Ridley School District. “I love watching the students grow musically, academically and socially,” said Jason. “With 22 years in the same district, I enjoy seeing and hearing about former students in the community who have become productive and successful adults.” From 2001-2003 Jason was also the Director of Music/Organist at Marple Presbyterian and he is currently the Director of Music and the organist at First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne, where he, Jen and Lianna are members.
Jen and Jason’s story began when Jen had finished college and Jason was finishing up his senior year. He and his roommates were desperately looking for a fifth roommate mid-summer. It just so happened that his roommate’s cousin Jen had just started a job in the West Chester area and was looking for a place to live. The guys said they didn’t mind a female roommate and Jen didn’t mind living with a few college guys. In fact, she got the biggest room in the house. After she moved in, she and Jason ended up hitting it off. What started off as a friendship led to romance and the couple married in 2000 at the church in Downingtown where Jason was then serving as a church organist.
It’s no surprise their wedding day was filled with music. First, the choir sang and musicians played music for a half hour before the wedding ceremony followed by the ceremony itself with lots of music. After the wedding, Jen and Jason took off for a fantastic honeymoon in Italy where they explored Rome, Venice, Florence and a few small towns in between.
Shortly after they were married, Jen and Jason were still living in West Chester, but looking to find a home that was more centrally located to their jobs. They both loved the Broomall area and found an ad for a home in a local paper. It turned out to be the perfect fixer upper where they lived for nearly fifteen years before moving to their current home in the Foxcroft neighborhood. Jen laughed when she explained that their second home ended up being a bit of a fixer upper too. “We found ourselves doing some of the same renovations we had to do in our first home!” Jen said.
Lucky for the couple, Jason is extremely handy, a trait he learned from his dad while growing up. As a teenager, Jason worked with his parents fixing up a home adja- cent to his dad’s childhood home. The renovations were quite impressive and even led to the home being featured in an issue
of This Old House magazine!
Step outside of Jen and Jason’s house and you’ll see they have extensive knowledge of plants and flowers, as evidenced by their backyard oasis. “Our only problem has been learning what the deer won’t eat,” said Jen. Their home is also filled with animals, which Jason likes to refer to as his “small zoo.” Aside from their two adopted dogs, Ginger and Snowflake, they also care for their tropical fish, leopard gecko, crested gecko and dart frogs.
The Noll’s home in Marple has been the perfect place to raise their daughter Lianna, now a senior at Marple Newtown High School (MNHS). An organized, conscientious, hard working student, Lianna is part of several honor societies including National Honor Society, English Honor Society, World Language Honor Society and Tri-M (the music honor society). This past Spring Lianna was honored with a 2nd place award for her poem entitled “Spring” in the Annual Young Poets of Delaware County Poetry Contest, hosted by the Delaware County Libraries.
Aside from her academic achievements, Lianna is also involved in nearly every music program at MNHS. Since she was a fourth grader at Russell Elementary, she’s been playing the trumpet and she now also plays the mellophone and French horn and sings in the school choir. A member of concert band, jazz band, indoor color guard and Marching Band, she’s looking forward to serving as the 2024-25 Drum Major. The best part of the
band for Lianna has been the friends she’s made along the way. “I also love seeing how the whole production comes together,” she said. “This year’s show “Under Pressure” will be especially fun as I get to direct part of the show that features Taylor Swift’s music.”
Dancing and musical theater are also a big part of Lianna’s life. For many years she studied ballet at Kristina Pulcini Ballet Academy in Havertown, she takes voice lessons and she’s performed in numerous plays including MN Drama’s recent productions of Mamma Mia and The Addams Family.
This summer, Lianna will perform with Upper Darby Summer Stage where she will have a part in their production of Frog and Toad. When she’s not performing on stage or with the band, you’ll find her lifeguarding at Rose Tree Woods Swim Club, where the Nolls have been members for nearly 10 years. “What I love about being a lifeguard is working with so many great people,” Lianna said. “I’ve known many of them for years through the pool and the swim team, so it’s a lot of fun.”
After high school, Lianna said that her plans are to continue music, which includes studying Music Education, Music Therapy and playing in a college marching band. Perhaps fol- lowing in her dad’s footsteps at West Chester University?
Jen and Jason love supporting Lianna in her many endeavors. It’s evident by their dedication to the MNHS Marching band and the drama program. You will find the Nolls supporting the band at Friday night football games and weekly competitions, as well as helping organize numerous fundraisers and parades. Jason also lent his musical talents to the Orchestra Pit in MN Drama’s Mamma Mia this past Spring as well as The Addams Family in 2023.
Jen is currently the President of the Marple Newtown Band Parents Association. “Not only did Lianna find her people when she joined the band in 9th grade, so did I,” said Jen. “My closest friends are band parents. We not only spend time together at band events but we choose to spend time together outside of band.”
Thank you Jen, Jason and Lianna for sharing your commitment to the music and arts programs in our community and for being a great example of Bringing People Together!