William C. Prescott Jr., the former Head of School at Wheeler School in Providence, has passed away at the age of 89, the school announced. Prescott led Wheeler for 23 years and remained an active member of the community after his headship.
Tenure and impact at Wheeler
Prescott served as Head of School from 1980 to 2003. During his 23-year tenure he helped establish programs that the school says have become national models, including Aerie Enrichment, the Hamilton School at Wheeler, Wheeler Summer and the school radio station, 88.1 FM. He supported the reinvigoration and reimaging of Wheeler Farm and oversaw the building of a new library on the Providence campus that now bears his name. The school noted that he remained involved with Wheeler for many years after leaving the headship, including serving on the Board of Trustees as recently as 2024.
Wheeler’s statement and remembrance
PHOTO: Wheeler School
We are incredibly saddened to share that former Head of School William C. Prescott, Jr. H’03, P’85, P’91, P’96 has passed away at the age of 89. Mr. Prescott’s tenure, from 1980-2003, was truly monumental in the history of our school. During those 23 years, in partnership with colleagues, he helped establish signature programs at Wheeler that have since become national models for other schools and inspired and impacted generations of students, from Aerie Enrichment and the Hamilton School at Wheeler, to Wheeler Summer and Wheeler’s radio station, 88.1FM. He supported the reinvigoration and reimaging of Wheeler Farm and the building of a new library on our Providence campus that today bears his name. Mr. Prescott remained an active member of the Wheeler community for many years after his headship, including serving on the Board of Trustees as recently as 2024.
“When I think about one of the things that excites me about Wheeler, I remember an early meeting involving faculty and parents and trustees,” Mr. Prescott shared in a story for “Now & Then” magazine as we looked back at his time at Wheeler. “I tried to word this as tactfully as possible, but I said I was not interested in Wheeler becoming a good school to be compared with the other independent schools in Rhode Island. I was looking for the best school in the world. I wanted the school to become a spectacular place in and of itself and irrespective of who it might be compared with. And that’s one of the things that excites me now about the school. I think it’s positioned and continues to position itself to be a great, great school. I don’t know too many schools that can compare with Wheeler.”
And we don’t know too many heads who can compare with Mr. Prescott. We are better for his leadership, kindness, and vision, and we celebrate his life and legacy.
Legacy
Wheeler’s announcement emphasized Prescott’s lasting influence on the school’s programs, facilities and community. The school said it celebrates his leadership, kindness and vision as part of its ongoing remembrance of his life and work.
Image Referance: https://www.golocalprov.com/obituaries/wheeler-school-announces-death-of-former-head-of-school-william-c.-prescott