Interim principal Alex Fox received a standing ovation from nearly every teacher in the auditorium when Superintendent Patrick Shelton announced he was recommending Mr. Fox for the permanent role of EHS principal.
“Everyone was just elated,” social studies teacher Erin Kloster said. “Everyone stood up and cheered and clapped. Dr. Shelton [said], ‘Good to see you have the support of the whole faculty and staff.’”
The recommendation came after multiple rounds of interviews with different candidates, eventually landing on Mr. Fox, after many members of the committee were pleased with how well he was doing in the interim role. To be confirmed, the school board must approve the recommendation at their monthly meeting Jan. 27.
“The board’s really happy with the decision,” said senior Amulya Girada, one of the student representatives on the school board. “[Mr. Fox] has been [so] involved with the kids and making personal connections with everyone … from the end of week announcements to saying hi in the hallways, he is such a welcoming person.”
Girada said she expects the board to approve the recommendation, which would make Mr. Fox the permanent principal for the 2025-26 school year, after 27 years in the school district. During his time as principal, he said he aims to make every kid feel comfortable and included.
“I want every kid … to be comfortable in their own shell,” he said. “I want to make this place somewhere where everybody feels comfortable and can chase their dreams.”
Many teachers said that along with making everyone feel comfortable, Mr. Fox has brought a daily presence to the school.
“I see him as a presence in the hallways,” English teacher Daniel McEvilly said. “He’s on the intercom every day. He’s easy to find, easy to reach, and he seems authentic, which is appreciated.”
Over the course of his time in the district, Mr. Fox built credibility with many different staff members, contributing to his authentic personality. But with the students, he makes sure that he is always earning their respect.
“The biggest thing in working with the students is … I don’t command respect from kids,” he said. “I just try to earn that, just like I would with anybody else. So, I think kids can respect that part.”
Despite some slight problems that have popped up over the course of the year, Mr. Fox doesn’t take credit for the successes in overcoming them. Instead, he said the credit should go to the students.
“I think that we’ve got the best kids in the area,” he said. “The students have stepped up when it comes to phone policies, when it comes to ID policies, all these things that the kids had to do, they stepped up. I give them the credit. I’m just happy that I’m part of it.”
Alongside the credit, Mr. Fox has high expectations for the students because he believes they can meet them and show him that they can be responsible. The high expectations allow him to “run the building based on what the students make [him] do,” and only step in to make changes when necessary.
“Ultimately, the students are in charge of the building,” he said. “A lot of people will never say that. I’m not afraid to say that.”
Mr. Fox doesn’t just have high standards for the students, but for teachers and staff, and will help them out so they can reach those standards for the entire school.
“He has high expectations for all of us as far as academic standards and behavioral issues,” social studies teacher Jane Hicks said. “Teachers like the idea that if we’re having a situation with a student about tardies or wearing hats or phones, that Mr. Fox has our back and will help us and be supportive.”
In addition to recommending Mr. Fox, Dr. Shelton announced that Success Academy will merge with the main EHS campus next year. Mr. Fox, who formerly oversaw Success Academy, hopes that the change will be beneficial to both those students, as well as the students on the main campus.
“For kids at Success Academy, it’s going to offer them a lot more opportunities to get some exposure to different classes,” he said. “[For] kids at the main campus … it allows you to welcome a group of students that maybe they haven’t had a lot of exposure to. They’ll be able to integrate into the full student body, which is good for everybody.”
Over the course of his first semester as principal of EHS, Mr. Fox enjoyed being able to have a meaningful relationship with the student body and hopes his high expectations for everyone can leave a lasting impact on the school.
“If students can do all the things we expect from them, it becomes a place where they have the say as where we go,” he said. “Right now, I think we’re on the path that’s leading us in the right direction.”