WEST CHICAGO, IL--The Board of Trustees of Wheaton Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Eugene A. (Gene) Frost as the new Head of School, effective August 1, 2006.
"We know Gene to be a visionary leader with a passion for the Wheaton Academy mission of working with the family and church to nurture growth in our students through relationships, excellence, and service," said Search Committee Chairman Rob Keith.
"It will be a tremendous honor to be able to serve with the excellent team that has been assembled at Wheaton Academy," said Frost. "I look forward to the exciting things that we can accomplish together in the years ahead."
Board Chair Don Adams added: "We're confident Gene has the spirit and the skills to lead an exceptional faculty and gifted student body into the future. He knows well the Board mandate to meet our enrollment growth objectives, complete the campus facility master plan, expand our programs, and strengthen relationships with our constituents. He's up to the task."
Dr. Frost was selected after a nationwide search conducted under the direction of the Board of Trustees Search Committee by Paideia, Inc. a leading firm that has worked with hundreds of schools since 1964. Dr. Frost, a current member of Wheaton Academy's Board of Trustees, was asked by the Search Committee to apply for the position at the recommendation of Dr. Bruce Lockerbie, Chairman of Paideia.
"Our firm processed more than 50 applicants from across the country for this position and narrowed the field through personal interviews to 16 strong candidates—most of whom are currently running successful schools. We also looked outside the box for persons of exceptional leadership gifts and did not see anyone more qualified and matched for the job than Dr. Frost," said Lockerbie.
Lockerbie interviewed Frost and presented him to the Search Committee as a finalist for the position. The Committee interviewed Frost and recommended him for the position. He was interviewed by the full Board and unanimously approved for the position at its June 19 meeting.
"Dr. Frost combines all the right academic and leadership credentials with an intimate knowledge and involvement with the school," said Lockerbie. "Sometimes the best person is right under your nose."
Dr. Frost is a 1971 graduate of Wheaton Academy. He earned his B.A. from Wheaton College (IL), a Master of Divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Supervision from Northern Illinois University.
Frost taught at Wheaton Academy for five years after college, receiving the Teacher of the Year award in 1981. Most recently, Gene served as President and CEO of HOSTS Learning (Help One Student to Succeed), a leading provider of supplemental reading and math resources for K-12 students. Gene currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of HOSTS. He also worked for Chicago Research and Trading as a trader, head of corporate training, and head of human resources. Gene has served on the Wheaton Academy Board of Trustees since 1987.
Gene and Barb, his wife of 28 years, live in Wheaton and have four children, all who are attending or have graduated from Wheaton Academy. They attend Faith Evangelical Covenant Church where Gene serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Founded in 1853, Wheaton Academy is one of the nation's oldest Christian high schools. A college preparatory school, it is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and recognized by the State of Illinois and the DuPage County Education Service Region. Wheaton Academy is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International.
