Jenifer Fox Arrives as New Head of School at Berkshire Country Day School

STOCKBRIDGE/LENOX, MA (07/29/2019) (readMedia)-- Stephanie Buchanan, chair of the Board of Trustees at Berkshire Country Day School, announced today that effective July 1, Jenifer Fox has joined Berkshire Country Day as head of school. "We are thrilled to have an educator with Jenifer's extensive experience and passion joining our school, " said Ms. Buchanan. "Her deep understanding of independent school leadership and strengths-based education aligns perfectly with our school's mission, philosophy, and values. We are looking forward to Jenifer's contributions to the lives of our students and to the larger community we serve."

Ms. Fox has 35 years of experience in both primary and secondary schools in the United States and overseas, most recently at the Delta School in Wilson, Arkansas, which she founded. "My belief is that we should make schools more human and learning utterly meaningful. School should be a magical place, full of wonder and joy, " Ms. Fox stated. "BCD is known for a rock-solid reputation of providing a first-rate academic experience, and my goal is to ensure the school remains a home of educational excellence, community engagement, excitement, grace, and service."

In envisioning the school's future, Ms. Fox emphasized, "Children and young adults are creative, purposeful beings in search of meaning. Education should offer children the opportunity to know for certain that their lives have purpose. BCD's program, which blends challenge with creativity, brings this intention to life every day. I am thrilled to be on board to lead the school and work together with its outstanding teachers, devoted families, engaging students, and steadfast alumni."

Similarly, she says, she is excited to be part of the larger community in The Berkshires and Columbia County. "This entire area is rich in culture, natural beauty, and innovation. Looking toward 2020, I'm eager to learn how BCD can work with other regional organizations, educators, and visionaries to create collaborations and partnerships that enhance and strengthen the larger community beyond the schoolhouse."

Ms. Fox is internationally recognized in the field of strengths-based education, which uses experiential learning activities to help students identify their greatest talents. Teachers then work with children to develop and apply strengths based on those talents to facilitate learning, intellectual development, and academic achievement. She was featured on the Today Show to discuss the strengths movement, gave a TedX talk on the subject, and has served as keynote speaker at numerous educational conferences, including the National Association of Independent Schools, the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference, the National Association of Girls' Schools/ Simmons School of Management Institute for Women Leaders, and the East African Conference of International Schools.

Ms. Fox's books, Your Child's Strengths, Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them (Viking Press 2008) and The Differentiated Instruction Book of Lists (Jossey-Bass, 2010), are seminal texts on the topic of personal strength-finding for children. Her latest book, A Child's Search for Meaning, to be published in 2020 by Jossey-Bass, focuses on the need for children to understand they have purpose and value, and explains how parents and schools can ignite this.

Ms. Fox holds a Master of Education from Harvard University, a Master of Arts from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, and a Bachelor of Science in Education and Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

As the founding head of school at the Delta School, Ms. Fox spearheaded the design of the project-based-learning school, which included a 6,500-square-foot makerspace to facilitate hands-on learning. At Berkshire Country Day School, says Ms. Fox, "I look forward to working with my colleagues and community to continue creating opportunities for children and adults to approach complex challenges with creativity and confidence."

About Berkshire Country Day School

Now in its 74th year, Berkshire Country Day School is an independent school for 2-year olds through Grade 8 and has been voted "Best Private School in the Berkshires" in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The school serves students from towns throughout Berkshire and Columbia Counties on its historic 27-acre campus, and graduates excel at both local public high schools and some of the country's best college preparatory schools. The school's mission is to inspire the individual promise of every student, that each may become an exemplary citizen of the world. For more information about the school, visit berkshirecountryday.org.