It was January 2008 when I visited Solebury School for the first time as a candidate in the school's search for a new Head of School. What I discovered was a school so extraordinary that I left that first visit knowing that if they wanted me, I wanted them! Nestled on a rolling 90 acre campus in the Pennsylvania countryside I found 220 students and their faculty pursuing learning as an exciting, shared endeavor between teachers and students. I soon discovered this unique approach to education was not happenstance but rather the cornerstone to Solebury's educational philosophy dating back to the vision of the four founders in 1925.
I quickly learned that this educational philosophy undergirded virtually all that I saw and experienced as I came to know Solebury. I found a casual, friendly atmosphere permeating the Solebury community, a school where teachers and students greet each other by their first names, a school dedicated to removing the barriers between students and teachers and replacing formality with a sense of 'we're in this together and it's fun and exciting'.
To achieve and sustain this vibrant atmosphere, Solebury is crafted to be intentionally small. Our size fosters quality communication among our students, teachers and parents, and enables our teachers to really get to know their students as individuals. At Solebury the individual is prized. Solebury students do not fit a mold, but in their dress, their avocations and their passions, they are encouraged to express themselves and to strive for their personal excellence, intellectually, artistically and athletically. The result is a magical learning environment characterized by a wonderful tension between creativity and diversity balanced against an ethos of cooperative learning between students and teachers.
There is a great deal more that enhances and enriches the learning experience of the Solebury community. The physical setting of the campus is an ideal place to spark the imagination and stoke the creativity of all who stride the pathways among the trees and pond, or pause to appreciate the view as the evening fog gathers in the low areas in the fall. This beautiful campus is home to old buildings that date from the mid-18th century, daily reminders of early American history, and new buildings – the Abbe Science Center, Walter Lamb Hall, and the recently-dedicated John D. Brown Athletic Center and Track and Field – state of the art facilities that complement our teachers in offering students a top-notch educational experience. On the near horizon, plans are underway to create a new Performing Arts Center, a new Student Center and a new girl's dormitory.
I encourage you to learn more about Solebury School first hand. Visit our campus, talk with our students, meet our admission staff and discover the unique excellence that is Solebury School.
Tom Wilschutz
Head of School