3/23/12 – Philadelphia & Wyndmoor, PA — The Brothers of the Christian Schools, District of Eastern North America, are pleased to announce that effective July 1, 2012 Brother Richard Kestler, FSC, will assume leadership at West Philadelphia Catholic High School in Philadelphia. Concurrently, Brother James Butler, FSC, will become President of La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia which operates West Catholic has appointed Brother Richard upon recommendation of the District administration while the Board of Trustees of La Salle has concurred with the Brothers’ request to advance Brother James’ term of office, previously slated to begin a year from then.
Last month, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia reversed its decision to close four high schools in the Philadelphia area including West Catholic High School. . The Brothers have been a part of the educational experience at West Catholic High School since 1926 and have gladly accepted the invitation to continue providing Lasallian leadership to this storied archdiocesan secondary school. Br. Richard Kestler, FSC, will bring his 52 years of experience as educator, administrator, and Brother of the Christian Schools to the Presidency at West Catholic. Br. Richard is no stranger at West, where he served as Principal from 1973-1979, and President from 1999-2005. Br. Richard leaves La Salle College High School after seven years as President.
Br. Richard Kestler, FSC
Succeeding Br. Richard at La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor is Br. James Butler, FSC. With over 30 years experience as an educator and a Christian Brother, Br. James currently serves as the Principal of Christian Brothers Academy, a Lasallian college preparatory school for young men located in Lincroft, NJ. He has been Principal of Christian Brothers Academy since 2008. Appointed the next president of La Salle this previous February, Brother James has served as a Trustee at La Salle for almost a decade.
Br. James Butler, FSC
In commenting on the appointments, Brother Dennis Malloy, FSC, Provincial Visitor of the District of Eastern North America expressed “the gratitude of all Lasallians on the East Coast for the flexibility of the governance, leadership, and school communities of La Salle College High School and Christian Brothers Academy in allowing the Brothers the freedom to respond creatively to the opportunities presented to them for leadership at West Catholic at this crucial time in its nearly 100 year history.”