By Owen Boss
Staff Writer
EASTHAMPTON - Williston Northampton School's new leader, Robert W. Hill III, no doubt feels right at home as he settles in for his first year at the helm. After all, his new post is just a stone's throw from his childhood stomping grounds.
Hill, Williston's new head of school, a self-proclaimed "New England guy," was born in Boston and spent the majority of his childhood in Amherst before moving to Vermont, where his father worked as a college professor.
Indeed, his familiarity with the area will help him reach the goals he's set for himself this year. In an interview at his new office at Williston last month, Hill said he intends to increase school initiatives that take advantage of the resources that abound in this higher education-rich region.
Sitting in the reception area of his office, which was clean, organized and situated in a building overlooking one of the school's grassy quads, Hill was eager to discuss the coming semester and the myriad opportunities it holds for Williston students.
The school's home in the Pioneer Valley, close to the five colleges, "means that we can provide a college preparatory experience that few, if any, independent schools can match," Hill said in his welcoming message to students.
Although he will be a new face to many students, Hill already knows one incoming eighth-grader very well - his 12-year-old daughter, Cameron, who is also starting her first year at the school this September. Hill's son, Robby, 8, will attend Smith College's Campus School.
"At least I'll know one of our eighth-graders," Hill said with a smile.
Along with wife Cathryn, also a teacher, who will likely teach math at the school starting next year, the Hill family has moved into its new home at what is known as the Head's House on Park Street. The Hills appear to be making efforts to keep their door open to Williston's students and faculty.
"It has been a great transition. He is happy to be here and the community is happy to have him here," said school spokesman Andrew Shelffo. "He has really opened up the Head's House to the community and the community has responded very favorably."
In July, Hill became the 19th person to take the reins at the Easthampton boarding/college preparatory school. In announcing their unanimous choice of Hill to replace retiring former head Brian Wright, school trustees said his experience working in a variety of different learning environments played a major role in their decision.
Long administrative career
Hill began his teaching career at Westminster School, in Simsbury, Conn., where he taught for 15 years. After Westminster, Hill spent nine years at St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H., assuming a variety of roles, including academic dean, director of college advising, and associate dean of faculty. Most recently, Hill was associate head of school and principal of the Upper School at Carolina Day School in Asheville, N.C.
Hill said what most attracted him to Williston was what he calls the "atmosphere of excellence" on campus.
"The people here represent the very best in what you look for in a boarding school," Hill said. "And the kids here are just great."
In his welcome message to incoming students, Hill said the school's Williston Plus Program, which targets resources at area colleges, was the biggest difference between the education Williston can provide and that offered at similar institutions.
"But to me, what really sets Williston apart are the wonderful, dedicated people who work so hard to enrich the lives of our students," he noted.
In addition to ensuring that the school's 550 students take advantage of the Pioneer Valley's "abundant intellectual capital" by signing up for internship and preparatory classes, Hill said he hopes Williston teachers will hone their teaching skills through collaborations with college professors.
"We expect this to go both ways, where we can offer these area colleges an alternative location for events or studies as well as helping with the professional development of our teaching staff," Hill said. "The program is limited only by the imagination of our students and teachers."
Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com
No comments:
Post a Comment