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History of Hilton Head Preparatory School
From the Island's ocean sands to the River May. So begins the original alma mater for Hilton Head Prep, written 20 years ago. The date was 1986, known as the "merger year", when two schools - May River Academy and Sea Pines Academy - became Hilton Head Preparatory School. But the story doesn't start in 1986; the story of Prep begins much earlier and encompasses students, teachers, and campuses in both Bluffton and at the back door of Sea Pines. The year was 1971, and May River Academy opened its doors to a class of first grade students on its Bluffton campus. Glenn P. Joyner was MRA's first headmaster, and he oversaw the school's Kindergarten through twelfth grade development. The first Board of six members included: William R. Duane, Chairman; C. J. Jones, Sr., Vice Chairman; E. F. Marchetti, Treasurer; Harold I. Beaver, Secretary; Richard B. Crosby, Jr.; and H. Tayloe Compton, Jr. Those involved with the school during these early years give much of the credit to Mr. Duane. The MRA mascot was the Patriot and the school colors were red and navy. In 1977, Tony Blanton became headmaster, and both Anne Ellis and Rich Basirico joined the MRA staff, Ellis in the 1977-78 school year and Basirico in 1978-79. Dr. Felix Turner, a local minister, served as MRA's next headmaster, assuming his duties in the late 1970s and serving until the early 1980s. Dr. Turner and his wife Tootsie joined MRA from Savannah Christian Academy. Two great schools have joined in one The history of Sea Pines Academy is rooted in the man many consider as the "founder" of Hilton Head Island itself: the late Charles Fraser. As the early mid-sixties development of the Island blossomed, the Sea Pines Company and Fraser approached the Beaufort County schools about establishing a south-end school. Because Fraser's company was appealing to prospective residents and management employees, a solid school system became a top priority. In 1965, the Sea Pines Company shouldered 80% of the costs to start a grades 1-7 private school. So in 1965, SPA was founded as an independent, non-profit educational institution. It was governed then by a 17-member Board of Trustees. By 1972, SPA was offering classes in grades 1-12. Also during 1972, SPA moved to its 15-acre campus two blocks from the ocean, adjacent to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, and next to Sea Pines Montessori School. This tract of land is, of course, the current home of Hilton Head Preparatory School. While enrollment at SPA was never hearty during those early years, under the leadership of SPA headmaster William McPhee, the school managed to grow into a grades 1-12 institution. With a Gator mascot and colors of green and yellow, the school made its presence known on the Hilton Head Island. By the 1982-83 school year, SPA was comprised of two 10,000 square foot air-conditioned buildings for administrative space and academic classrooms, a gym with adjacent cafeteria, library space, and a computer lab. SPA also had a playground, baseball diamond, and soccer field. And as the 1984-85 SPA Handbook for Parents and Students states, "Throughout its history, Sea Pines Academy has emphasized quality education with its small classes and excellent teachers." To look back at the listing of the school's Board of Trustees from the mid-eighties, you will recognize some of these last names: Ames, Biel, Burden, Fraser, Harden, Jones, LaMotte, Rippeto, Ruth, Scarminach, Wilson. But by 1985, SPA had to face fiscal reality. Enrollment had topped out at 240 students, and the future looked uncertain. Enter the Marathon Oil Company, developer of Port Royal, Indigo Run, Shipyard, and Wexford Plantations on the Island. What Marathon proposed was a merger of two schools - May River Academy and Sea Pines Academy - and the oil company would provide land within the Indigo Run complex. Since both small independent schools were struggling, it made sense to many to merge them into one stronger unit. Plans called for both MRA and SPA to eventually sell both campuses, merge into the new Indigo Run campus, pay off all debt, and boast an enrollment of some 500 students. But the economy faltered and with it these plans. Both the MRA and SPA campuses continued to exist until a physical merger occurred during the 1985-86 school year incorporating the grounds of SPA. The new school, Hilton Head Preparatory School, was deeded ten acres in Sea Pines. By selling the MRA campus in 1988 (the old school campus in Bluffton is now the site of the Beaufort County Recreation Department), Prep was able to pay down some of its lingering debt. Eventually, Prep sold back some of the Sea Pines land to reduce its long-term debt. In 1982, Bobby Welch had become headmaster of May River Academy, and in 1985 Welch became head of Hilton Head Prep. Welch and his wife Pam came to MRA and HHP from Savannah Christian Academy. In 1992, Michael J. Pratt assumed the job as headmaster of Prep, serving until 1998. Jack Stanford then became interim head for the 1998-1999 year until Robert W. H. (Robin) Byrd became head at the start of the 1999-2000 school year. Byrd served the school until the spring of 2003; Prep's new Head of School is Dr. Susan R. Groesbeck. Hilton Head Prep School now stands Yearbooks from these earlier eras look surprisingly like our current editions of The Phin with pages showing smiling, happy faces, eager teachers, and lots of sports and other school-related activities. A photo from the 1975 May River Academy Musket shows a young man holding up a sign reading "Seniors are Dynamite!" That same edition shows a little third grade girl named Anne Ellis, Mrs. Ellis's daughter! The 1975 Sea Pines Academy Gator Lore shows a very young Spencer Smith in a varsity boys basketball team photo; Spencer later became a member of Prep's first Alumni Association Board. And on the pages devoted to boys and girls tennis, you can find Charlie Fraser and Ora Elliot Smith among their teammates! Drew Butler, another early Alumni Association Board member, can be seen teeing off as a member of the SPA golf team (if you read recent editions of The Island Packet you'll note that Drew is still a fine golfer). And even a quick glance at some of the events and class pages bring up more familiar names: Perry, Barker, Cork, Harden, Corkern, Mahoney, Ferrene, Capin, and Fraser just for starters. Shining bright, a living flame, Prep has faced many challenges in its years of existence from financial concerns to fluctuating enrollment to faculty attrition, yet the school is very much still an educational force. Former headmaster Mike Pratt once said that "the island needs Prep. The kind of people who are attracted to Hilton Head expect independent education. It says something about the community. I think a community is known by the schools you keep." And Robin Byrd, in speaking to the graduates of the Class of 2003, told them, "The best gift you can give a teacher who loved you is to stay in touch, as you are successful in college and in life, so that they may share your pride." Prep's history is one with the history of the Island itself. But despite the years and the changes they have brought, the school's mission has never wavered, to seek "to educate college-bound students in a safe environment. Instilling personal integrity is central to our educational purpose. We strive to prepare a diverse population of qualified students for academic challenges, for a successful college experience, and for rewarding lives." As the current ad campaign for the school reminds us, Prep helps its students "prepare for college, prepare for life." In our new Head of School's own words, Dr. Groesbeck has written about our faculty that both the new teachers and the seasoned veterans are "very committed to providing the very best education for your children." Dr. Groesbeck considers families as "integral partners" in Prep's educational experience, and she cites Prep's "new sense of spirit and energy" radiating on campus. Over the years, perhaps some of the descriptive wording may have changed a bit, but the essential strength and integrity of The Prep Experience have not. As the school reaches into the twenty-first century, we can look both back and ahead to celebrate Prep's accomplishments and eagerly await its challenges. (Sources consulted for this history include The 1984-85 SPA Handbook, "Making the Grade" by Janet Smith from the December 1992 issue of "Hilton Head Monthly", and various interviews. The Alma Mater for Hilton Head Prep was written in 1986 by Barbara W. Hood.) |
