A Retrospective on John Elmore’s 10 Years as O’Neal Head of School

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The2022-2023 academic year marks Head of School

John Elmore's 10th year at The O’Neal School, a long way from the start of his educational career at Grinnell College and his hometown in rural Montana. He was the first on the paternal side to attend high school. Later, he studied abroad in Europe and gained a broader perspective of education from his global experiences. Throughout his time in graduate school and the start of his educational career, he desired to create a strong learning environment and carried his long-term academic vision with him. Above all, his greatest desire is to build academic excellence and to incorporate the feelings of community and equality within

O’Neal. Elmore’s successes produced immense growth and achievement within the School, all of which solidify his evergrowing legacy that will inspire future generations.

Elmore’s transition to O’Neal Head of School in 2014 signified a shift in O’Neal’s community, both academic and cultural. He brought with him a background of prior leadership experience. Trustee Stan Bradshaw and Chair of the Board of Trustees Dr. Lynda Acker, both of whom have worked with Elmore for years, lauded his knowledge of the education system and leadership style extending from a wealth of experience. Along with his large net of resources,

Bradshaw noted that Elmore prioritizes speed, focus, and flexibility while acting on his vision for the School to yearly expand on successful and rigorous programs. A particular value he introduced to O’Neal was a “Northeast” style, which draws on his experience with the dedicated academic tradition present in many long established institutions. Elmore also mentioned advancing O’Neal by applying an “entrepreneurial spirit” to his leadership, prioritizing new ideas and individual action.

Under his leadership, multiple programs have been founded or improved at O’Neal, along with the other positive impacts he’s made on our community. During Elmore’s 10 years, the performance of athletics has been elevated to a higher level. For example, girls golf became a varsity sport and the team has established a reputation as one of the strongest teams in the high school division. In the last four years alone, they brought home the state championship three times. The last two years have produced consecutive championships. Beyond advancing a competitive golf program, Elmore tirelessly improves other aspects of athletics at O’Neal. Acker remarked, “Athletics has been transformed into an incredibly successful program, with new teams added in both middle and upper school, and numerous championships, both conference, and state.” Furthermore, there were improvements to various facilities across campus such as updating the performance room and renovating the pool and equipment in 2018. These refurbishments enhance the physical capability, access, and health of O’Neal’s athletes, developing the performance of several sports teams. The numerous additions to the School demonstrate Elmore’s commitment to developing athletics overall.

Highlights of the Past 10 Years

• Student Enrollment Growth by 30%

• Implementation of:

– One Schoohouse Online Course Offering

– Junior Kindergarten

– Bridges in Mathematics Program (K-5)

– Readers & Writers Workshop (K-8)

– Two Additional Advanced Placement Courses + One School House Offerings

– Schoolwide Grammar Program

– Signature Scholars Research Program

– Writing Program Requiring Research Papers at all MS/US Grade Levels.

• 10 State Championships under Athletic Director James Franklin

• Awarded Wells Fargo Cup in Division 2A - 2020 & 2021

• Introduced Sports Performance Program

• Greenhouse, Campus Lighting, Central Campus & more

• Hiring of Health and Safety

Personnel

Not only is Elmore dedicated to improving sports programs, but he created new academic opportunities to push the limits of the students at O’Neal. The Signature Scholars Research Program (SSRP), implemented in 2021, was created by Elmore in combination with English Department Head, Dr. Nicole Camastra and former Upper School Head, Matthew Jacobs. Although Advanced Placement courses have been a staple of O’Neal’s curriculum for many years, Elmore knew that for some O’Neal students, APs could go only so far and something new was needed to allow students to discover new academic frontiers. As a result, Elmore implemented SSRP, a program that went beyond those classes where a select number of students could begin collegiate-level research journeys. Further, SSRP was a program that would differentiate the School and O'Neal students.

Elmore pursues progress in the O’Neal community beyond athletics and academics with other initiatives such as improving campus safety and diversifying the student body. For example, security fobs and a security head were introduced to O’Neal in an effort to provide greater protection to the community. Nurses and counselors are another aspect of safety and health added to O’Neal’s staff for better in-school care for students. Additionally, O’Neal is always seeking opportunities to expand the student body, such as hosting international students every year. Director of Educational Technology and Library Service, Ms. Christine Fecteau, who worked with him at Green Farms Academy in Connecticut, observes that “there is a great, at least with the students, a great desire to kind of embrace it all.” Students are ambitious, and Elmore allows for their growth with the accomplishments and programs he has created or expanded at O’Neal.

A principal change that Elmore has brought to O’Neal has been a larger focus “on excellence, [in] all areas”, as he put it. He seeks to accommodate the variety of students he recognizes at O’Neal, saying, “We've done a nice job, I think, on both ends”, referring to both ends of the wide spectrum of student identities. He is aware of the value of individual students being able to access the fields they are passionate about, whether that be athletics, academics, the arts, or a combination thereof. Elmore seeks fairness within all levels he oversees. Academics, athletics, and the arts, programs which once saw varied attention, he has pushed to be examined in a uniform manner. No one field holds more precedent than another, something which has been well received by faculty and students alike.

John Elmore’s values as Head of School have helped him cultivate a successful and forward-looking atmosphere at O’Neal; however, he has faced his fair share of adversities. Regarding athletics, one element of inequality that Elmore has sought to correct is the superior recognition of the men’s teams in comparison to the women’s teams, regardless of skill level. When asked about Elmore’s biggest impact on the athletics department, O'Neal Athletic Director James Franklin, responded by saying, “In other schools, men's sports may get more attention, but he ensures that both gendered teams get equal representation”. Although he is very proud of the strides he has made in this area, Elmore’s commitment to progress yet again presents itself as he believes that O’Neal still has various areas in need of “building”.

This desire for continual progress Elmore has brought to O’Neal is nothing short of admirable. He is constantly forward-looking, never satisfied with the work he has done. This skill was paramount when COVID-19 halted the progress of virtually all schools in North Carolina. His leadership prospered in a time of uncertainty and helped O’Neal continue to function despite the unease that was felt nationwide. Bradshaw spoke on Elmore’s understanding of priorities during the pandemic. Many educational administrations were unwilling to deviate from the status quo of virtual learning that had been established; however, Elmore went another route. The "Montanan”, as Elmore calls himself, instead decided to remain completely inperson, without the alternative to online education. This maneuver was risky, but in the end, offered many benefits, including the retention of all faculty members, significant advantages to students’ social and educational development, staggering growth paired with record enrollment, and the continued establishment of O’Neal as a paragon for educational excellence.

John Elmore is one of the most adaptable and resilient Heads of School in O’Neal’s half-century-long history. Throughout his time here, Elmore has implemented many projects that have shaped the School and its mission:

Signature Scholars Research Program, campus safety and health, egalitarian expansion of the athletics program, greater academic aptitude, and much more. Holistically, The O’Neal School has grown significantly under the leadership of John Elmore, a scholar who arrived on the campus 10 years ago with ideas to be implemented and aspirations worth striving for. The entire O’Neal community recognizes and values Elmore’s contributions. Such recognition was made apparent when the Board of Trustees dedicated the green space surrounding Konni’s Courtyard— the newest community space in the center of campus—to Elmore, naming it “John Elmore Green.” In the coming years, he is hopeful to implement specific educational programs, such as incorporating accommodations for learning disabilities, expanding more social and emotional learning into the Middle and Upper Schools, and continuing to implement many more monumental improvements across the campus.