Last school year, it was revealed that Head of School Bryan Garman would transition from his position at Wilmington Friends to serve as Head of School at Sidwell Friends in Washington, D.C. in the following winter. This has brought about mixed feelings among the faculty and student body; many see his going as a great loss to our community but are happy for him, as he expresses his excitement to undertake a new challenge.

Mr. Garman’s ties with the Sidwell Friends community and the Georgetown area go way back before his time working here at Wilmington Friends. He began his teaching career at Sidwell over twenty years ago, and later became the Upper School Principal, and then Assistant Head of School. After nine years, Garman made the switch to come to Wilmington Friends, where he would serve as the Head of School until this winter.

Mr. Garman says that although he will certainly miss Wilmington, he looks forward to his return to Washington, D.C. : “I am grateful for all of the support I received here. I have worked with some terrific people, have made lifelong friends, and have thoroughly enjoyed our students and families. At the same time, I am looking forward to returning to the Washington area.” He claims that he most anticipates taking on new challenges, as well as reuniting with old friends and colleagues. Sidwell has recently started new, innovative programs, such as Mandarin in the fourth grade, and summer-study courses that take place internationally. Mr. Garman says that he is excited and ready to support the faculty in these growing programs.

Because Sidwell Friends is also a Quaker school, many connections exist between the two communities. Wilmington Friends, however, has a much smaller student body than Sidwell Friends—about 730 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade in comparison to Sidwell’s 1,100 students. “There are other differences, I suppose,” Mr. Garman considers, “that have to do with the size and characteristics of the cities in which the schools are located. Both schools tend to attract a lot of international families, and the importance of diversity to both schools is something that I value a great deal.”

When asked to reflect on his time at WFS, Mr. Garman was nothing but positive. He says that he has loved his time at Friends, calling it a “special community” where he has learned a great deal. He says there are many great memories he will take away: “talking with students, attending athletic events and arts performances, opening the new theater, and working with outstanding people.” No one can forget his determination in managing the school’s reconstruction project after the devastating fire in the spring of 2012. In return, there is no question that the Wilmington Friends community will miss Mr. Garman during these events in the future.

After speaking with numerous students, it is clear that he has had quite an influence on the student body. Joslyn Gardner ’16 is one of many that have enjoyed their time with Mr. Garman as their headmaster: “He has impacted the school in a way that is hard to imagine someone ever being able to fill his shoes. [He] is a really special guy because he really makes an effort to get to know everyone who is part of this community.” This is definitely a true statement; Ian Furman ’15 agrees: “Mr. Garman truly embodies the term Community in the Quaker S.P.I.C.E.S. Every time he walks down the hall he can always be seen saying hello to students, asking them how the game went, or how a project is coming along,” he says. Meryl Gatti ’15 does as well, recalling that “his positive energy always radiates throughout the hallways.” He will truly be missed when he is no longer seen walking about Alapocas, according to Simone Veale ’17. Cat Clark ’16 mentioned it will be strange without his greetings at the door in the morning. Nick Granda-Stone ’15 speaks for everyone when saying: “My fondest memories of Mr. Garman’s time at Friends are also the most frequent—the hallway conversations he is never too busy for, and the greetings he always gives every student. Although Mr. Garman will be sorely missed following his departure, his words of wisdom and involvement in our community will remain with us all for years to come.” Without a doubt, Mr. Garman will continue to make a difference in every community he is a part of, and the students at Sidwell Friends are lucky to have him coming their way.

Everybody here at WFS shares excitement in seeing Mr. Garman take on a new experience, and wishing him the best of luck in Washington, D.C. Before he goes, however, Mr. Garman leaves Wilmington Friends with a final wish: “I hope that [the community] continues to thrive, to continue to embrace its Quaker mission, and to continue to serve students with a deep sense of caring. And I hope that it is a place where it will always be fun to learn.” Thank you, Mr. Garman, for all you’ve done for WFS.