Hofreuter Stepping Down as Head of Wheeling Country Day at End of School Year
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WHEELING -- Liz Hofreuter, the head of school at Wheeling Country Day School for the last 15 years, announced Friday afternoon that the 2023-24 school year would be her last in the role. Yet she isn't moving very far, and her connection to the school will remain.
Hofreuter will step into a new role as CEO of Edge Fearless Learning, a program created on the WCDS campus that started as the Center for Multi-Sensory Learning.
Edge Fearless Learning is a program that is now being used in several states that provides individualized learning models based on each student's needs in both literacy and math. Hofreuter said she's moving to that role to expand access to more students and sustain the fiscal life of WCDS.
"I'm expanding the walls not just from the campus at 8 Park Road, Wheeling Park and (West Virginia Northern Community College), but to school districts and out-of-school networks hopefully nationally," Hofreuter said in a video that accompanied the announcement. "It has been my greatest privilege and blessing to be allowed to be a part of so many families in my 15 years at Wheeling Country Day School. "And it has been beyond my honor to work shoulder to shoulder with such an innovative, dedicated and incredibly nurturing faculty, as well as the most dedicated leadership team one could ask for."
Hofreuter also said family played into the decision to take on a new challenge, that the flexibility of that new role could create the opportunity to focus on her family.
Since Hofreuter became head of school at WCDS, student enrollment has grown from 80 students to 230. She restored the WCDS middle school after more than 40 years and led a capital campaign to modernize and expand the school's classrooms. WCDS now has satellite facilities at both Wheeling Park and WVNCC.
Lisa Allen, chair of the WCDS Board of Directors, said Friday that the school has hired search firm RG175 to assist in finding a new head of school. Board vice-president Scott Harden will serve as chair of the search committee.
In a statement, Allen thanked Hofreuter for her 15 years of "visionary leadership."
"Over the years, our children, families, educators and community have benefited greatly from Liz' transformational leadership," she said. "I am confident that WCDS will continue to benefit in the future from the strong foundation she and the faculty have developed."
Hofreuter also thanked the WCDS faculty and staff for their work in the school's growth over the years. She's excited for the 2023-24 school year and is confident in the school's future.
"I know I leave the current and future WCDS community in exceptional hands," she said. "I trusted them with my own children. There is no higher praise."