AHA International School (formerly American Hebrew Academy until 2020) was intended to be an international college-preparatory school located in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was to be open to students of all faiths but was originally founded as a Jewish international school, American Hebrew Academy, the only such school in the world for boarding and day students between 9th and 12th grade.[2] The coeducational school's 100-acre (40 ha) campus was designed by Aaron Green, protégé of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.[3] The school closed in June 2019 but later announced plans to reopen for the 2021–2022 school year.[4] A reopening of AHA International School never occurred.
| AHA International School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
4334 Hobbs Road 27410 United States | |
| Coordinates | 36°06′32″N 79°52′15″W / 36.1089°N 79.8708°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, boarding |
| Religious affiliation(s) | None |
| Established | 2001 |
| Closed | 2019 |
| CEEB code | 341579 |
| Head of school | Abe Tawil |
| Faculty | 51 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | TBD |
| Average class size | 12 students |
| Student to teacher ratio | 4:1 |
| Campus | Gated, 100 acres (0.4 km²) |
| Color(s) | Blue, white, and gray |
| Athletics | 16 Interscholastic Sports |
| Mascot | Eagle |
| Tuition | $25,600 (day students) $49,475 (boarding students)[1] |
| Website | ahainternationalschool |
History edit
AHA International School opened in 2001 as the American Hebrew Academy, known as "AHA". The school was founded by several leaders in Jewish education, including Alvin Mars, to create a pluralistic learning and leadership environment. The initial objective of the school was simply to create a high school option for the local Jewish community near Greensboro, and to draw a critical mass of students from other regions of the country where Jewish day school was not a feasible option.[5] Subsequent to the school's founding, the school's unique identity as a coed, pluralistic Jewish boarding school attracted students globally and hosted a diverse student body from over 35 countries.
The academy's inception was sponsored and spearheaded by Maurice "Chico" Sabbah, a philanthropist, businessman, Sephardic Jew, and Zionist, and longtime resident of Greensboro. Sabbah's nephew, Glenn Drew, continued to manage the school and served as CEO executive director, and General Counsel since the school's beginning.[6] Drew resigned in November 2020.[7]
Board members included Leeor Sabbah, Glenn Drew, Joseph Weilgus, Joel Fleishman of Duke University, investor Michael Steinhardt, Jehuda Reinharz of Brandeis University, Marsha Cohen, Bonnie Lipton, Scott Shay of Signature Bank, Douglas Greene, Abe Tawil and Larry Heyman.[8]
Closing and rebranding edit
On June 11, 2019, Glenn Drew notified community members that the school would close after 18 years, citing financial distress.[9] The news was broadly reported as abrupt and unexpected.[2] On September 13, 2019 the academy announced plans to reopen in for the 2020-2021 school year.[10]
In May 2020, the academy announced plans to rebrand itself for reopening in 2021, after receiving a $26 million investment from a Chinese education company Puxin Limited.[11] As part of its rebranding, the school would encourage international enrollment, including countries in the Middle East and Asia.[4]
The academy was renamed AHA International School and was scheduled to reopen in September 2021.[12] As part of its reopening, the school's college prep program was expanded to place a higher emphasis on Advanced Placement courses and professional experience opportunities for students.[13]
AHA International School also released a video announcing that campus tours would resume in September 2020, and students would be admitted for classes beginning in August 2021.[14] Abe Tawil served as head of school.[15] Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the school did not reopen.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a $50 million dollar 5 year lease of the campus to use as a transitional housing facility for unaccompanied migrant children.[16] HHS's plans for the campus include hosting up to 800 unaccompanied minors, ages 13-17. These children will receive physical and educational assessments as they prepare for a reunion with family member(s) or a sponsor. Children will live in campus dormitories, take meals in the dining hall, classes in the academic buildings and receive medical care in the health center.[17] AHA will be operating an educational program for the children hosted on the campus according to educational requirements of the State of North Carolina. This program is known as Greensboro Global Academy.[18]
Campus edit
The location is a 100-acre (40 ha) campus, including a 22-acre (8.9 ha) lake. Following a national architectural competition to design the campus, Frank Lloyd Wright’s associate architect, Aaron Green, was commissioned to create the master plan for the campus and building designs for every building the academy would eventually need for the immediate future and for years to come.
As of 2016, American Hebrew Academy had the largest closed-loop geothermal exchange well field in the United States to heat and cool its campus. In 2016, the academy dedicated the new Charlotte K. Frank Center for Plant Science & Ecology which provides a state of the art research and experimentation facility for advancing the study of hydroponics, aquaculture, soil and water conservation and Israel's leadership in the development of agricultural technology.[19]
References edit
- ^ "AHA International School". Ourkids.net. Archived from the original on 2020-10-21. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ a b Pink, Aiden; Feldman, Ari. "American Hebrew Academy, Prestigious Jewish Boarding School, Closes Abruptly". The Forward. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- ^ Slutsky, Carolyn (October 12, 2008). "Room, Board — And 'Jewish Peoplehood'". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
- ^ a b "American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro rebranded as AHA International School ahead of reopening". myfox8.com. 2020-03-06. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ^ Cone, Edward (2002-09-30). "Who Is Chico Sabbah?". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
- ^ "Against The Odds, AHA Nearing 15th Year". Jewish Week. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
- ^ Pounds, Jessie (November 18, 2020). "Leader of AHA International School in Greensboro leaving at the end of November". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
- ^ "American Hebrew Academy Inc - "Form 990" for fiscal year ending June 2017". ProPublica. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- ^ Cohen, Phil (17 June 2019). "What Went Wrong at the American Hebrew Academy?". Tablet. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- ^ Web Staff (September 13, 2019). "American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro to reopen for 2020–2021 school year after suddenly closing earlier this summer". WGHP. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ "Jewish Boarding School That Closed After Financial Struggles Will Reopen". The Forward. 2019-09-13. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
- ^ Warfield, Andy (May 12, 2020). "Shuttered international school rebrands, anticipates 2021 re-opening". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ^ Warfield, Andy (November 18, 2020). "Glenn Drew stepping down as head of Greensboro's AHA International School". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
- ^ Drew, Glenn. "AHA International School Announces Future Plans". YES! Weekly. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ^ "American Hebrew Academy Plans To Reopen as AHA International School". The Rhino Times of Greensboro. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ^ "Feds pen nearly $50-million deal with American Hebrew Academy to house immigrant children in Greensboro". FOX8 WGHP. 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
- ^ "U.S. to house migrant children in former North Carolina boarding school later this summer". wfmynews2.com. 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
- ^ "Greensboro Global Academy". www.greensboroglobalacademy.org. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
- ^ "CIJE Update – Journey to Israel, STEM Down South | Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education". www.thecije.org. Archived from the original on 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
