Schools

Retiring Westfield Friends Headmaster Leaves Mark on School

'I'm at peace with it,' says Westfield Friends School Head of School William Probsting about his decision to retire at the end of the month.

How long has Bill Probsting been head of school at Westfield Friends School?

Long enough to make statements like this: "I can remember the first Apple computer we bought for $5,000."

It's been nearly 40 years since Probsting joined the staff at Westfield—which is celebrating its 225th anniversary this year—as a full-time sixth-grade teacher and head of school. He retires at the end of the month.

Probsting spent about three years at Moorestown Friends School before coming to Westfield and immediately taking over as head of school, a somewhat "unusual jump," he admitted.

"I won't say (I was) shocked, but it took me by surprise," he said. "And most people who are head of school don't teach full-time ... It's been a good fit ever since."

Reflecting on his 39 years, Probsting said one of the most challenging aspects of his job has been keeping the students focused on the Quaker values that are at the core of the school's curriculum. 

"To make those relevant for each kid, every day, has been interesting through the years," he said. "Kids are kids, and they live in a very complicated world."

It was always the children, he said, who made the job worthwhile.

"It's the kind of administrative job where I am constantly, almost daily, interacting with students," Probsting said. "Being locked in an office is not where my heart is."

He pondered retirement for about a year before officially making a decision and announcing it in December 2012.

Probsting summed up the decision simply: "It was just time ... I thought new eyes, a fresher approach might benefit the school. I'm at peace with it. It's the right thing for me, and I think it's the right thing for the school."

Former Buckingham Friends School head of school Peter Pearson will take over for Probsting starting July 1. He will serve as interim head of school for one year while the school searches for a permanent replacement.

Pearson, who spent 12 years at Buckingham Friends School in Lahaska, PA, has been an educator for 45 years, 30 of them at Buckingham. He's spent the last few years teaching at Solebury School in New Hope, PA.

He welcomed the opportunity to return to the friends school environment when the Westfield job came his way, he said. "It's a nurturing, caring environment, where each individual child is 'held in the Light.'"

"I'm honored to have been chosen to carry on after Mr. Probsting," Pearson added, "and upholding the many fine traditions that are a part of Westfield Friends School."


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