Jane Goll, who conceived and established Westminster School, was herself the product of a remarkable upbringing. Her intellect, discipline, and dedication to learning were nurtured and strengthened by the richness and rigor of a traditional, classical education in the New York City public schools, as well as the close attention and high expectations of her father. Her great sympathy for humanity and her passion for living were inspired by literature and a wide array of cultural and life experiences provided first by her parents and then through her own choices. Mrs. Goll grew up aspiring to be a teacher. She married and accompanied her husband to various governmental posts in Europe, where she experienced firsthand the educational systems practiced there. When Mrs. Goll returned to America, teaching in both public and private institutions, she felt that the schools neither challenged nor enriched the students as much as they deserved, so she decided to establish her own school.

In 1962, Mrs. Goll rented facilities at St. Albans Episcopal Church in Annandale, VA, and opened a private kindergarten class. The children in her care made such remarkable progress that their parents pleaded with Mrs. Goll to expand the program into first grade. Year by year, the program grew, and soon Mrs. Goll needed to give her school a name. Inspired by the great English school of the same name, Mrs. Goll chose to call the school Westminster.

When Westminster School’s enrollment reached the capacity of the rented facilities, the parents urged Mrs. Goll to build her own school, and they helped raise funds for purchase of property at 3819 Gallows Road. The current school facilities were built in six construction phases from 1970 to 2003. (Westminster School is now planning further expansion in the form of a state-of-the-art, turf athletic field addition and a building addition to house new upper-school classrooms and expanding art, science, and technology programs.)

Into her vision of a superior elementary education, Mrs. Goll wove what she saw as the English dedication to classical learning; the high expectations and attention to detail emphasized in German schools; the passion for philosophical inquiry, emphasis on the arts, and the joie de vivre of the French; and the optimism, warmth, and friendliness characteristic of American schools. From these hybrid elements, fed by the passion and dedication of Mrs. Goll, her protégé, Mr. Glover (Head of School, 1992 – 2021), and other supporters, grew the structure of Westminster, its program, policies, procedures, traditions, and values. In establishing the Western
Civilization survey and classical studies as the touchstone of the curriculum, Mrs. Goll was particularly influenced by the writings of Gilbert Hyatt and Jacques Barzun. From Hyatt, she also borrowed the correlation of the sequence of the history curriculum with the age and developmental stage of the students.

Mrs. Goll’s intense vitality, charm, and strength of character earned her much love and respect, and her death on September 5, 1992, came as a sorrowful shock to the Westminster community. At her memorial service, more than 300 staff members, students, parents, alumni, and friends joined family members in celebrating her dauntless spirit and significant accomplishments.

Westminster’s philosophy expanded under the leadership of Ellis Glover, the school’s second Head, who was personally and professionally mentored by the school’s founder. Mr. Glover’s personal upbringing manifested itself in an overall emphasis on excellence, showing pride in work and attention to matters of presentation, whether personal or in the physical plant. His education in the humanities, with an emphasis on classical learning, dovetailed with the program established by Mrs. Goll, but he brought additional interests and energy to the school. Mr. Glover was instrumental in developing the P.E. and athletic programs, including helping to found the Capital Athletic Conference and insisting on league parity for girls. His work with the students in drama and other hands-on teaching, along with his personal evolution, persuaded him of the central role of the arts in the development of the individual. While exposure to the arts had always been included in the Westminster program, the powerful effect of participation in the arts on the children’s confidence, poise, and sense of possibility gradually emerged as a desirable and defining characteristic of the Westminster program.

This development of both athletics and arts as important components of a Westminster education, in addition to the strong academic program, gave rise to the ideal of a Westminster graduate as a “Renaissance” person, knowledgeable, interested, and actively engaged in developing him/herself in many directions. From this arose a school motto: “Celebrate strength, strengthen weakness.” In other words, rather than focus on one outstanding ability a child may evidence, the Westminster program provides opportunities to “shine” in areas of strength, while nurturing and challenging the student in many areas. The goal of balancing the energies and
development of mind, body, and spirit emerged in the school philosophy. In 2021, after 45 years of service to Westminster School, Mr. Glover retired.

After 30 years of service to Westminster School, Mrs. Nancy Schuler was named Head of School by the Board of Trustees and assumed that position on August 1, 2021. She is the third Head of School since Westminster’s founding in 1962. Mrs. Schuler holds a BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in Business Administration and a MEd in Independent School Leadership. Mrs. Schuler is determined to uphold Westminster’s mission and values while welcoming new possibilities for expanding the program and serving the school’s evolving community.

Mrs. Schuler’s association with Westminster School began when she was 11 years old, with a transfer to Westminster from public school at the beginning of 6th grade. She enjoyed three years as a student in the school and had the privilege of being taught by Mrs. Goll, the school’s founder. Mrs. Schuler remembers fondly her days as a Westminster student and says that those three years helped to chart the path for her future education. She remembers being fascinated by her classical studies, enthused by her dance classes, and excited about learning French. Most of all, she remembers the personal attention she received and the constant reminders to be kind, responsible, and respectful. She is very proud to be a Westminster alumna. When she graduated from college with a degree in education, Mrs. Schuler was invited to teach at Westminster School by the School’s founder, Mrs. Jane Goll. She became the 3rd/4th grade history/classical studies teacher and loved the six exciting years she spent with her students exploring the wonders of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece. Her success as a teacher led to administrative responsibilities, and Mrs. Schuler served as the 3rd/4th grade team leader for a number of years.

After giving birth to twin girls in 1996, Mrs. Schuler took time off to be home with her children and then returned to Westminster in the capacity of Admissions Director. In the years following, she also served as History Department Chair, Geography Department Chair, and took on increasing administrative responsibilities, including heading up the school’s COVID response and safe return to school. Mrs. Schuler says that being the parent of three Westminster graduates has been the most rewarding role she has had at the school. She has seen the Westminster values flower in her children and help guide their success through high school, college, and now into their professional lives.

Since becoming Head of School, Mrs. Schuler has made many enhancements and started new initiatives at Westminster. She has prioritized improvements to the facility, most notably by securing funds to build the Griffin Field and Playground Plaza, a transformational project completed in the spring of 2026 for which she supervised every detail.  Additionally, she also oversaw the installation of a much-needed upgraded HVAC system in the summer of 2025 and the replacement of the majority of the school’s roof in 2021.

Mrs. Schuler’s program initiatives include the addition of Spanish as a language choice (previously only French and Latin were offered), the installation of a designated MakerSpace including STEAM materials and equipment, as well as an expansion of the STEAM program and the hiring of full-time STEAM teacher.  In addition, Mrs. Schuler added a formalized Social/Emotional Learning program for grades 4-8.  Investments also have been made in new athletic equipment and uniforms, orchestra and music equipment, library upgrades, and an expansion of the Student Resource Center.

After experiencing the school from every angle—as a student, a teacher, an administrator, a parent, and now as the leader of the school, Mrs. Schuler is proud to share those various perspectives with parents and others interested in Westminster School.