UPDATE | Prosch resigns as head of South Whidbey High School

Rob Prosch has resigned as principal of South Whidbey High School. District Superintendent Fred McCarthy said late Friday the resignation will be effective at the end of the school year.

By Brian Kelly • February 24, 2010 10:56 am
South Whidbey High School principal Rob Prosch speaks to graduating seniors before last year's commencement.
South Whidbey High School principal Rob Prosch speaks to graduating seniors before last year's commencement.

Rob Prosch has resigned as principal of South Whidbey High School. District Superintendent Fred McCarthy said late Friday the resignation will be effective at the end of the school year.

“He indicated he had some other plans professionally,” McCarthy said.

The school board is expected to accept the resignation at the next board meeting on Feb. 24.

McCarthy said the district would not seek someone from outside the district to replace Prosch.

“It’s our intent to fill the position and restructure from within,” McCarthy said.

Prosch has been principal at South Whidbey High School for two years.

Prosch submitted a two-sentence resignation letter on Feb. 16.

“Please consider this my official notification that I will resign my position as principal of South Whidbey High School effective the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the students, staff and community of South Whidbey,” it read.

“I’m looking at some other options right now,” Prosch said Monday. “I’m looking at some things in the educational world as well as the artistic world.”

Prosch was principal for five years at Nooksack Valley High School before coming to Whidbey in July 2007. He replaced Mike Johnson, now the school district’s director of teaching and learning.

Prosch has been at the helm of the high school during the nonstop turmoil of budget cuts, staff reductions and declining enrollment. The middle school is also expected to move its students and staff to the SWHS campus no later than September 2012.

Prosch has also been a familiar face in the community. He was an opera singer before he began teaching, and immersed himself in the South End entertainment scene after becoming principal at SWHS.

He played Judge Turpin in the recent Whidbey Island Center for the Arts production of “Sweeney Todd,” and spearheaded the creation of WICA’s Conservatory Choir.

Prosch said he is going to keep his home on Whidbey, and said the decision was not made overnight.

He told the staff at the high school about his decision after school on Thursday.

“It’s been a couple of months that I’ve been thinking through what I want to do,” Prosch said.

The resignation is expected to be effective June 30.