When students returned to the Westbury Friends School last week they were greeted by a new face. On July 1, Geraldine Faivre took over the helm as head of Westbury Friends School, having been appointed by the board of managers. Faivre, a resident of Bayville, replaces Ida Edelman who retired in June after serving in the top spot for 12 years.

Faivre, who received her AB in art education from Marywood University and her MS in elementary education from C.W. Post Long Island University, has 27 years of experience in education, first as a teacher and, most recently, as an administrator, serving as head of Lower School at East Woods School in Oyster Bay for nine years.

Faivre assisted in the founding of the Jewish Academy in East Northport where she is currently involved as a non-paid consultant. She has served on the Professional Development Committee for the New York State Association of Independent Schools, is a member of the UJA/Columbia Business School Institute for Day School Management and has been accepted into the Harvard School of Education Principal's Institute.

As the school's new head, Faivre said her top priority is to increase enrollment. Because Westbury Friends is a Quaker school, it has continually offered a philosophy of openness and diversity throughout the 57 years it has been open. Faivre states her educational philosophy to "staying current on all matters of education, and always being ready to look outside the box for new ideas and applications, constantly evaluating, revising, and renewing yourself, your curriculum and your presentation is the essence of good teaching/administering."

She hopes to extend its welcoming philosophy to the immediate area. "We really want the Westbury Community and the surrounding areas to recognize that we exist and that we are certainly an option if [parents] are considering independent school life for their children," Faivre said.

Along with Nancy Aranda, as the new director of admissions, Faivre plans to target two communities every year for the next five years as part of a strategic plan to increase awareness of Westbury Friends School.

Faivre is very supportive of the school's mission to increase the children's awareness of both spiritual and moral values. For years, students of Westbury Friends have been nurtured, cared for and respected. She applauds the outstanding faculty of the school, many of whom have been on staff for over 10 years.

"It has built itself as a family community," she said.

Faivre told The Westbury Times that she is also very impressed with Westbury Friend's academic excellence and applauded its good record of admissions to wonderful secondary and independent middle schools.

"We have lots of challenges ahead, but I'm confident that the dedication of this faculty and the parent-body, and the joy of these children, who love this school, will be the catalyst to keep driving us ever onward," she said.

In accepting the position, Faivre said, "Great teaching and learning can occur only in an atmosphere of love, clear purpose and commitment. We will keep the children of Westbury Friends School central to our focus and set attainable goals for all aspects of continued growth and development of Westbury Friends School."