The various branches of Buddhism teach that change is inevitable. Monks instruct that rather than resent change, followers should open up to and value it, for it has the ability to bring about positivity. With this understanding, it seems that Wilmington Friends School, a community which affectionately guides its students from childhood to adulthood, would be able to support and resonate with this Buddhist teaching. The Friends community sees change in many ways through the year, let it be in the coming and going of seasons-a-many outside classroom windows or in the miraculous transformation high schoolers make from hesitant freshman to driven alumni. However, inarguably one of the most influential changes Friends School can make is that to its faculty. In the past year, the community said some tough goodbyes to beloved teachers, including Scott Rhodewalt, Behnaz Varamini, and Kate Zipin. These people became more than just teachers to many students at Friends; they became role models, companions, and supporters in and out of the classroom. While they will be missed dearly, those remaining at Friends School are granted the opportunity to cultivate relationships with equally remarkable people.

In the fall, Friends School welcomed Linda Beard, Mike Benner, Betsy Cepparulo, Alejandra Navarro-Benbow, and Sarah O’Brien into the community with open arms. Remarkably, many of these new community members described their transition to Friends School with an affectionate sentiment. Sarah O’brien, who previously taught chemistry at a large public high school in Avon Grove, Pennsylvania, described her feeling that it was, “Meant to be.” O’Brien now teaches Advanced Chemistry, Physics, and is a eleventh grade advisor. In an interview, she compared Avon Grove to Friends, recognizing that, “Teaching at a large school was a different experience for me. I was from a small town and went to a small high school so I missed the feeling of community.” O’Brien further reiterated her love for the Friends community when asked about her favorite aspects of the school thus far. She explained, “The community as a whole is full of good people who are interested in supporting my work as a teacher and otherwise.” The Friends community has no trouble showing dedication to its members, and Sarah O’Brien can vouch for this firsthand.

Sharing the feelings of Sarah O’Brien, Betsy Cepparulo, who grew up in Delaware, described her decision to come to Friends as a feeling that, “It was time to come home.” Cepparulo previously taught an AP history course and, four out of five days a week, Zumba at a private school for low income families in California’s Bay Area. She currently teaches the ninth grade Global Peace and Justice class and the tenth grade U.S History class. Cepparulo said she feels especially at home teaching Global Peace and Justice. This is because it combines her experiences attending Quaker school and the time she spent working as a lawyer in Pennsylvania. In regard to the student body at Friends School, Cepparulo stated that she loved how early on she was able to create relationships with her students. She said, “They come to class excited to learn, telling me about articles they’ve read or books they think I should read. It gets me excited to teach them!” While Betsy Cepparulo may have had some trouble adjusting to the temperature change between coasts, she had no trouble at all finding her place in the community.

Another teacher who had a seeming seamless transition into the Friends community is Alejandra Navarro-Benbow. Her smooth transition may be due in part to her familiarity with teaching at a Quaker school, as she previously taught at Westtown Friends. However, it could also be due to her undergrad education at Haverford College, where she, “Enjoyed being in a community with Quaker guiding principles.” With these things in mind, it is no surprise how quickly Navarro-Benbow has become a part of the community. When asked about what she has been enjoying the most out of her experiences thus far, she said that, even only at three weeks in, she has been greatly enjoying coaching winter track. Navarro-Benbow also spoke highly of her opportunity to attend the POC conference several weeks ago. Finally, Navarro-Benbow said she has enjoyed getting to know the community better, a process which is only accelerated by her eager involvement in it.

It is clear that each remarkable new member of the Friends School faculty and greater community carries with them an itinerary of experiences and wisdom from which all those involved can do nothing but benefit from. All of these people have slipped, with ease, into the caring, all inclusive, and dedicated community Friends School students, faculty, and alumni strive to uphold every day. As they, and all others, continue to change and learn more about themselves, the community at Friends will grow around them. It will always be one step beneath them, waiting to lift them back up if they should fall, and cheering every step until they reach the finish line.