Little Red Schoolhouse: Where Kids Loved to Learn

Welcome friends, families, and community members near and far! My name is Julia Desisto (Peters), and I am fundraising for an organization that is very near and dear to my heart; West Branch School. I am an alumna of the school and currently serve on its Governance Committee. I attended the school from 1993 -1999 and learned more than just reading and writing. It taught me foundational lessons about friendship, kindness, respect, responsibility, and community to name a few.

West Branch School was established 52 years ago by several families and educators with one dream in mind: to provide an extraordinary and different kind of education for children. They challenged the traditional standards of teaching and created a constructive and inquisitive learning environment for students. With core values centered around exploration, inquiry, communication, collaboration, creativity, and community, students often discovered more than just a sense of self but a sense of belonging. Many alumni and their families regard the school as a second home and continue to be involved by attending events, volunteering their time, and even teaching.

Based out of Williamsport, PA, West Branch School was known as the “little red schoolhouse” where children loved to learn. You would often hear students engaging, laughing, and creating with one another and their mentors. Leading the school for much of its time were educators Steven Hulslander and Sandra Elion. Though Steve primarily taught social studies and science while Sandy taught ELA, they often taught collaboratively and integrated their passion for creative arts. One of the most unique aspects of the curriculum was the annual play production. Steve and Sandy would direct students as they performed roles and stage responsibilities from abridged plays written by impressive playwrights such as Shakespeare and Homer. Together, they impacted the lives of so many students and are widely recognized as the heart and soul of West Branch.

Aside from its innovative practices and unique philosophy, West Branch did more than educate the minds of tomorrow’s future leaders, it created an extensive family that deeply cares for one another, their communities, and our world.

Sadly, the school recently announced it was closing after years of financial troubles, largely due to low enrollment during and post-pandemic. Members of our Governance Committee, Steven and Julie Hulslander, Sandy Elion, alums, and others closely involved with the school are meeting regularly and working together to create the brightest future possible for WBS. We hope to partner with another organization that will continue working with the community while carrying on the West Branch School Association name and philosophy. We are currently exploring several organizations that we’ve had long-standing working relationships with. All of which are educational and art-focused non-profit organizations like West Branch.

It’s so important to me, the GC, former teachers, alums, and the community to keep the school’s spirit alive and see it successfully partner with one of these organizations so their legacy lives on. But to do so, we have a lot of financial burdens and responsibilities to take care of before passing the torch. Utility costs, maintenance, taxes, and property insurance costs have been quickly accumulating. Many of our members have already given financial support to keep the lights on and to buy us more time to make the best decision for the school. Unfortunately, our individual resources can only extend so far, which is why I created this gofundme to seek support from our friends, alumni, and members in our communities near and far.

West Branch is a gem in our society, education, and the world and has impacted my life and so many others. It is the reason why I have such a deep passion and respect for the arts, nature, my community, family, and education. And in my opinion, it is thanks to schools like WBS that helped pave the way toward progressive changes in education. To have the opportunity to create the gofundme and give back to invest in its future, just as my mentors and so many others did before me, is incredibly fulfilling. It is truly a blessing and privilege to be part of the West Branch family and to help support them during this difficult time of transition. It may be bittersweet that the school has closed, but its values and spirit don’t have to end. Together, we can continue the West Branch way and create a new beginning.

You can donate through this site by credit, debit, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. If you would prefer to send a check, please address it to West Branch School Association and mail it to 755 Moore Ave. Williamsport, PA 17701.

Click on the below link to view photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zR2GEfjyrKzXrJMy5