Westtown Administrators
"I keep getting new jobs, but I get to stay at the place I really believe in!"
— Theodore Lutkus, Upper School Principal
The members of Westtown’s administrative team have over 400 years of experience working in schools! Even as administrators, many still teach, coach or work directly with students in some capacity.
John Baird (2002)
Head of School
BA, Princeton University
MA, Providence College
john.baird@westtown.edu
610-399-7960
Before coming to Westtown School, John Baird taught and coached at Moses Brown School and The Darrow School, and served as Head of Carolina Friends School. A Klingenstein Fellow in 2000, John has been a frequent presenter at workshops and professional conferences. He serves on the Board of Friends Council on Education. John's interests range from music and birding to the poet Mary Oliver and the fortunes of the Chicago Cubs. He enjoys the variety of his job and the opportunities for continuous learning and growth in the company of young people and the committed adults who care about them.
Robert Connolly (1997)
Business Manager
BS, Pennsylvania State University
robert.connolly@westtown.edu
610-399-7819
Bob came to Westtown from Safeguard Business Systems where he had been Vice President for Corporate Human Resources for twelve years. Prior to that, he held positions in Personnel Services with Handicrafters, Inc. and the Harrisburg State Hospital. Bob is an elected board member of the Philadelphia Area Independent School Business Officer Association (PAISBOA) and serves as Chair of Philadelphia Area Independent School Insurance Group (PAISIG), which is a health insurance purchasing consortium that serves 120 schools, 9,500 employees with $75M in premiums. He also serves as Chair for the Compensation & Benefits Committee of ABOPS (Association of Business Officers of Preparatory Schools). Bob is a member of the Kendal Crosslands Community Board of Directors, and of the Rotary Club of West Chester where he is Assistant Chair for the International Service Committee.
Jeannette B. Cooper (1995)
Director of Athletics and Health Education
BS, Bridgewater State College
MS, United States Sports Academy
jeannette.cooper@westtown.edu
610-399-7947
Jeannette Cooper's passion is education through the physical. Prior to coming to Westtown, she served as Dean of Students and Director of Athletics at the Berkshire School. Jeannette is a member of the NFHCA High School National Academic Squad Committee and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association. She is a presenter at numerous professional conferences and meetings, coaches Varsity Field Hockey, teaches Health and Life Skills, and is herself a competitive tennis player. Go 'Town!
Jay Farrow (1980)
Associate Head of School
BA, The College of Wooster
MA, Villanova University
jay.farrow@westtown.edu
610-399-7965
Jay is a 1975 graduate of Westtown School. He has served the school in many different capacities including Dean of Students and Health Center Director. Prior to coming to Westtown, he did admissions work for the College of Wooster. Head Varsity Wrestling Coach since 1986, Jay also teaches mathematics in the Middle and Upper School and enjoys working with his advisee groups in the Upper School. Jay is an avid Cleveland professional sports fan with his favorite team being the Cleveland Browns. He enjoys journal writing, puzzles, and painting. Jay has two sons, Matt '09 and Chris '11, who are on the "lifer" track at Westtown School.
Ellen Gilbert (2004)
Director of Advancement
BA, Colgate University
MBA, Villanova University
ellen.gilbert@westtown.edu
610-399-7915
Ellen Cryer Gilbert is a 1976 graduate of Westtown. Before returning to the school to head up the Advancement Office, Ellen worked in sales and marketing with Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson. She enjoys meeting alumni, parents, and grandparents and talking with them about Westtown and how their gifts of time and money can make a real difference in the school.
Susan Gold (1997)
Director of Communications
BA, Oberlin College
MAT, Duke University
sue.gold@westtown.edu
610-399-7655
Sue Gold came to Westtown after having taught in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Colorado, and as well, at Media-Providence Friends School. Before becoming Director of Communications, Sue worked in Westtown’s Advancement Office and later taught 6th grade history. Sue is excited about having the opportunity to give voice to the many initiatives taking place at Westtown. And she still enjoys playing doublebass alongside students in Middle School concerts. Her children, Jake ’03 and Hannah ’06, both graduated from Westtown.
Kathleen Holz (2000)
Director of Admission and Financial Aid
BA, Pennsylvania State University
MBA, Harvard University School of Business
Kate.holz@westtown.edu
610-399-7901
Kate Holz came to Westtown with a background in social work and business. Before that, she was Associate Director of the Friends Council on Education, having also worked as a project manager in industry. While at Westtown, Kate has presided over the expansion of the Lower and Middle Schools, increased enrollment in the Upper School, and developed an organized recruitment program for international students. She is inspired by this quote from Andre Gide: “One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.” Kate lives on the Westtown campus with her husband, Don. Their son, Nick, graduated from Westtown in 2007.
Madeline Long (2000)
Health Center Director
Normal Degree in Education, Catholic University
BSN, College Misericordia
MA/MFT, St. Joseph’s College
Madeline.long@westtown.edu
610-399-7831
Born in South Boston, Madeline's earliest calling was as a nun. She has taught in private, parochial and public schools, while using her nursing degree in a variety of settings. Her strengths include human sexuality education, and her therapy background is in marriage and family counseling. Madeline has been able to use these and other areas of expertise as she works in collaboration with students and their families at Westtown.
Theodore C. Lutkus (1990)
Upper School Principal
BS, Haverford College
M.Ed, Harvard Graduate School of Education
ted.lutkus@westtown.edu
610-399-7931
Ted came to Westtown as an Assistant Dean, running the Boys' Third Dorm, coaching tennis, and teaching biology. Every few years he has switched roles in the school, moving from Dean of Students to Science Department Head to his present position as the Upper School Principal. He says, "I keep getting new jobs, but I get to stay at the place I really believe in!"
Joseph R. Marchese (1992)
Dean of Faculty
BS and MS, Central Connecticut State University
joe.marchese@westtown.edu
610-399-7972
Joe is a career educator, having served forty years in the profession. Prior to coming to Westtown as Upper School Principal—and now Dean of Faculty—Joe has been a teacher, head of school and divisional principal in several schools, including Georgetown Day School in Washington D.C., Burgundy Farm Country Day School in Alexandria, VA, Calhoun School in New York City and Friends Select School in Philadelphia. He is very interested in adult development and the professional growth of teachers.
Susan S. Temple (1999)
Lower School Principal
BS, Boston University
MSS, Bryn Mawr College
susan.temple@westtown.edu
610-399-7963
Susan has a background in both education and social work. Before she came to Westtown as Lower School Principal, she had experience teaching as well as in the field of mental health, where she worked with children and families. All three of her own children are Westonians: Peter '95, Ben '97 and Emily '07. Susan is a member of Westtown’s class of '68. In her work with young children, Susan is guided by this belief: "Childhood is a journey, not a race."
Nancy van Arkel (1986)
Middle School Principal
BA, Guilford College
MA, University of North Carolina
MSLS, Columbia University
nancy.vanarkel@westtown.edu
610-399-7844
A life-long Friend, Nancy has spent over 30 years working in Friends education as a teacher, librarian and administrator. Nancy has served on the board of Mullica Hill Friends School and has held the American Library Association national leadership position for independent school librarians. Nancy's daughter Hannah graduated from Westtown in 1991. She says, "I love all the opportunities for failure and redemption in Middle School. On a canoe trip or a math test, in the science lab or on the playing fields, on stage or on a reflective essay, students are held so gently as they take risks and grow from the experience. And it seems like a thousand times a day, a child's face lights up with 'Oh, I get it!' joy."
