Elon Homes Hires School Consultant: Ned Fox is Assisting the Development of the Institution

By Mike Wilder, Times-News, Burlington, N.C.

Mar. 31–Ned Fox spent 25 years as headmaster of Charlotte Latin School.

Since leaving the independent school in 2001, he has continued his work as a consultant for private schools.

In that role, Fox is assisting Elon Homes for Children in developing The Elon School at its Alamance County campus.

Fox has been president of the N.C. Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools.

Elon Homes plans to open the independent high school in the fall of 2007. Fox is helping Fred Grosse, who heads Elon Homes for Children, look for a headmaster for the school. A search company is also part of that effort. Elon Homes is hoping to have the position filled by the end of April.

Elon Homes is also hoping to quickly hire a director of admissions.

In December 2005, Elon Homes shut down its previous operations on its local campus. Elon Homes began in Alamance County in 1907 as an orphanage and later provided homes for young people from troubled backgrounds.

It still operates its Charlotte campus and places children in foster homes.

When Fox went to Charlotte Latin School, he was the school’s fifth headmaster in its first seven years.

He attributes his longevity there to “luck” mixed with “some skill.” He said he always kept a focus on some type of major project, such as new facilities or new programs, including the international studies program the school started while he was there.

Starting a school is “a leap of faith,” Fox said. He said the school already has two of the three key things — buildings and start-up money — it needs to open.

Recruiting teachers and students are among the next key steps once a headmaster and director of admissions are hired. Grosse has said the school is interested in drawing students from nearby counties in addition to Alamance.

Fox said the person chosen as headmaster will, not surprisingly, do more than anyone else to define the character and personality of the school.

Part of Elon Homes’ effort to determine interest in The Elon School has involved talking to people at local private schools that don’t have a high school.

Alan Gibby is head of Burlington Day School, an independent school that includes elementary and middle. About 170 students are enrolled.

On average, about 15 eighthgrade students graduate from Burlington Day each year.

Gibby said half or slightly more than half attend public school for high school. Others go to Greensboro Day School, and some go to boarding school.

Gibby thinks parents of Burlington Day students are interested in seeing what The Elon School will offer, especially since it will be the first non-public high school in the county without a religious affiliation.

Anyone who would like to know more about The Elon School, including information about admissions, can e-mail jane.grosse@theelonschool.org Mike Wilder can be reached at mike_wilder@link.freedom.com or 506-3046

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Copyright (c) 2006, Times-News, Burlington, N.C.

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