Wetherill School Principal Retires After 35 Years

The Board of Directors of the has announced the retirement of Joell Taggart after 35 years.

Taggart founded the school along with Florence and Elwood Schmidt, according to the press release. Florence Schmidt, the school’s founding principal, died suddenly in 1981, and Taggart has headed the school ever since.  

“It was a daunting task stepping into the footsteps of my friend and mentor,” Taggart said in the release, “but our strong school community and warm family tradition helped enormously—I can’t think of a better way to have spent the last 35 years; watching small children grow into caring and successful adults is incredibly satisfying.”  

The strong family tradition and spirit continue to this day as many alumni have chosen to send their own children to Wetherill, and serve on its board and faculty. After a year-long search, the board is pleased to welcome Marie Conti as the new principal, who will start July 15.

“Marie is an experienced educator and administrator, and we think we have found an excellent match for our school,” said Jody Seibert, Chair of the Board’s Search Committee.

Marie has had both extensive early-childhood classroom experience and a college teaching background in education. She has most recently served as the Executive Director for Accreditation at the American Montessori Society in New York. 

Wetherill educates 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds in morning, afternoon and full-day kindergarten classes in a creative atmosphere that blends elements of Montessori, traditional early childhood and Reggio Emilia educational philosophies. The school, which is licensed by the State Board of Private Academic Schools, has sent over 900 children on to local public and private schools.