By Stephen Baldwin,
RealWV, www.therealwv.com
“We’re excited to provide another option,” says Rece Nester, Head of Greenbrier Community School. “The team is phenomenal!”
Construction is currently underway on a significant addition to the historic building which formerly housed The Bolling School, a post-civil war school for Black children, in Lewisburg, WV. The building now houses Greenbrier Community School, a private institution established in 1999.
Middle School Addition
“Parents requested this alternate option for middle school-aged children,” says Nester, “but we only had space for a sixth grade class.” So she and her board got to work raising funds and planning the renovation. They are adding an additional classroom for seventh and eighth grade students, who will be part of the school for the first time since Bolling was open.
“We’re confident we are filling a need that has already been established,” Nested adds. “We have a long waiting list for our early elementary class, only one opening in the 5th/6th grade class, and now we have a few openings in this new 7th/8th grade class.”
GCS has a total enrollment of 75 students, and that has been steadily increasing over the last five years. The school was formed as Greenbrier Episcopal School, which is when Nester first became involved. She was a teacher, then joined the board, and then became Head of School in 2019.
“It’s a special place,” she says. “Magical teachers, inspired rooms focused on student learning, natural light, right outside downtown Lewisburg in this historic space. We’re very excited about this next step.”
Multiage Classrooms with Small Class Sizes
GCS operates multiage classrooms, meaning that every classroom (except kindergarten) is comprised of children across at least two grade levels. They have an early education class, kindergarten, 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, and now a 7th/8th class.
“It allows the classroom to operate more like the real world,” Nester says of the multiage system.
And yet, it also allows the school to maintain a student to teacher ratio that 8:1. For kindergarten, it’s 5:1. And in preschool, it’s 4:1.
“That really sets us apart,” Nester comments, “in addition to the education and training of our teachers.”
Each classroom has two teachers with no more than 16 students. Most lead teachers have a master’s degree in education with a specialty and are certified by the state (though they’re not required to be). Most co-teachers are working on their advanced degrees as they teach.
“These people love teaching, and it shows,” Nester says.
Adding a new middle school classroom for 7th/8th graders means bringing on a new teaching team, and Nester is thrilled to welcome Sarah Elkins, Erica Marks, and Samantha Thomas. Nester says they bring a variety of professional skills and backgrounds to the classroom and will provide dynamic instruction.
“We’re listening to the students to see what experiences they want to get out of middle school,” says Nester. “We are looking at adding a debate team, a graphic design club, and more.”
Scholarship Program
While most students who attend GCS pay private tuition, financial support is available via the Bolling Clay Scholarship. A committee of former Bolling students and family members consider applications annually for students of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
“It has met a need,” Nester confirms. “There are students who could not be here without those scholarship funds.”
Most enrollment slots are filled for the coming school year, though a few in the middle school age range remain open.
“I met with two families today who are interested in enrolling,” Nester shares. “But even if we don’t have room at the moment we do have a waiting list and we are always happy to provide families tours to see the school.”
The middle school addition at Greenbrier Community School is expected to be completed by the end of July 2025 with students returning later in August.
For more information on the school, visit www.greenbriercommunityschool.org.
