Memo: To The Independent School Community
Posted February 21, 2012
February 2012
To: The Independent School Community
From: Walter Burgin, Board Chair, The Edward E. Ford Foundation
For the past decade, Bob Hallett has given clear-headed and dynamic leadership to The Edward E. Ford Foundation in his role as Executive Director. I am writing to share that Bob has decided to step down from his leadership position with The Foundation as of July 1, 2013.
All of us associated with The Foundation are deeply grateful to Bob for his stewardship. I am well aware that many leaders within independent education share that gratitude. Bob has been an advocate for independent schools as well as a source of advice and counsel to many independent school heads across the country. He has helped The Foundation maintain its historic commitment to independent schools while interpreting that mission in a way that responds to the challenges that both independent schools and education as a whole face today and in the years ahead. One outgrowth of that interpretation has been the creation of $250,000 Edward E. Ford Educational Leadership Grants given by The Foundation to schools that take on projects that are transformational and collaborative in nature. Acknowledging the importance of establishing communications across various sectors within the educational community, those grants have encouraged independent schools to answer specific challenges and to think about the public purpose of independent education.
This is an exciting time for our foundation. Since it was established by Edward E. Ford in 1957, The Foundation has sought to strengthen and support independent secondary schools in this country. Our recently developed mission statement reasserts this historic mission while also recognizing the opportunity for independent schools today “to leverage their unique talents, expertise and resources to advance teaching and learning throughout this country” and committing to help them do this.
A search committee consisting of board members has been formed to oversee the search for Bob’s successor. Earl Ball of Carney Sandoe & Associates will coordinate the search. Questions or suggestions about the search should be addressed to Earl at earl.ball@carneysandoe.com.