Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Hill.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Our Story
In Monroe County, families faced a difficult reality: local daycare facilities carried 1–2 year waitlists. For many parents, the lack of safe and reliable childcare meant delaying or sacrificing employment—impacting not only individual households, but our entire local economy.
As a small rural county, we were often overlooked by larger “premiere” learning academies. No one was willing to take a chance on our families.
So we did.
In August 2024, we opened Monroe County’s first premiere Early Learning Academy, serving children from birth through 4K, while also providing before- and after-school care and holiday break programming for PK–5 students.
We made a promise to our families:
• A loving and nurturing staff that meets every child’s individual needs
• A rigorous academic foundation to prepare our scholars for lifelong success
• Healthy, home-cooked, and varied meals served daily
• STEM opportunities integrated across all age levels
• Small class sizes to ensure personalized instruction
• A hands-on leadership team committed to ongoing staff development
• A safe, secure, and clean facility open 356 days a year
Today, we proudly serve over 100 families in the Middle Georgia area.
We call our students scholars because we believe in their potential. Our mission is to give each scholar “an unfair advantage”—a strong academic and character foundation that carries them confidently into K–12 education, college, career, and adulthood.
We are not simply providing childcare.
We are building the future of Monroe County—one scholar at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing Through Challenges
At The Fox Den Early Learning Academy, we believe challenges are opportunities. As a leadership team and staff, we often say that growth comes through refinement. Every obstacle has strengthened our systems, sharpened our focus, and ultimately improved outcomes for our scholars.
We categorize our early challenges into two primary areas:
1. Personnel: Building and Sustaining Excellence
We believe that the single greatest factor in a child’s educational experience is the quality of the adult in the classroom.
Although The Fox Den offers wages above many nearby centers, the childcare field presents ongoing staffing challenges. Some of our most talented educators have transitioned into their “dream jobs”—positions aligned with their college degrees and long-term career goals. We celebrate those moments. When our staff members grow into new opportunities, we view it as a testament to the caliber of professionals we attract.
Like any growing organization, we have also experienced “mis-hires”—situations where a candidate’s resume, interview, and credentials did not translate into classroom effectiveness. In early childhood education, alignment in temperament, teamwork, classroom management, and heart for children is just as important as experience.
Each of these experiences has refined our hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and evaluation processes. We are continually strengthening our recruitment pipeline and developing internal leaders who embody “The Fox Den Way.”
2. Social Media & Public Narrative
Before our academy opened, several local childcare centers made front-page news due to serious staff misconduct. These stories serve as sobering reminders of the responsibility entrusted to us.
As a leadership team, we proactively review such cases with our staff. We discuss which DECAL regulations were violated and how our systems ensure compliance, safety, and nurturing care at The Fox Den. We do not shy away from accountability—we teach it.
On three occasions, misleading social media headlines created confusion about our academy. While we immediately provided clarity and full context to our families and community, narratives from unaffiliated individuals temporarily affected our reputation.
These experiences strengthened our communication protocols. Today, we emphasize transparency, proactive parent communication, and clear documentation to protect our scholars, our staff, and our integrity.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Founder & Executive Director
From a young age, I knew my calling was centered on developing children. I believed then—as I do now—that my God-given gifts were meant to help young people discover their potential and build a strong foundation for life.
At 21 years old, I began my career as an elementary educator in Clayton County Schools. For seven years, I had the privilege of teaching 9–11 year-old students during some of the most formative years of their development. Those classroom experiences shaped my philosophy: strong relationships, high expectations, and intentional instruction change lives.
When my wife and I began our family, I transitioned into Educational Sales, where I spent the next 25 years traveling across Georgia and throughout the nation working alongside educators, administrators, and school board members. Whether the focus was textbooks, curriculum resources, or educational software, my mission remained consistent—shine a light on best practices in education.
I firmly believe that an educator who is not actively learning and refining their craft becomes stagnant. When teachers stop growing, the likelihood of meeting students’ evolving needs diminishes. That belief has guided every professional decision I have made.
After 25 years on the road, my wife and I felt called to create something lasting in the community we call home. In August 2024, we opened The Fox Den Early Learning Academy—Monroe County’s first premiere early learning academy—serving birth through 4K, as well as providing before- and after-school and holiday care for PK–5 students.
This decision allowed me to:
• Invest directly in the children and families of our community
• Build an academic foundation that gives scholars “an unfair advantage”
• Spend more time with my wife and children
• Strengthen the local workforce by providing reliable, high-quality childcare
In addition to leading The Fox Den Academy, I have had the honor of serving as a City Councilman for the City of Forsyth for the past two years. In this role, I work alongside fellow council members and citizens to address community needs and promote thoughtful growth for our city and county.
Education, leadership, and service are not separate callings for me—they are deeply connected. Whether in the classroom, in business, or in public service, my focus remains the same:
Build people. Strengthen community. Leave it better than we found it.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
A Reluctant Risk-Taker
For most of my life, I have been risk-averse.
I saved more than I spent.
I planned events meticulously to avoid mistakes or oversights.
I filled my gas tank at half-full so I would never risk running out down the road.
Control brought comfort. Preparation brought security.
But the greatest growth in my life came when I stepped outside of both.
Leaving the corporate world after 25 years—walking away from stability, investing everything into a vision, and launching The Fox Den Academy—was the single biggest risk I have ever taken.
It required faith.
It required trust.
It required surrender.
To combat my natural hesitation toward risk, I intentionally surrounded myself with strong entrepreneurs—friends who had built successful businesses in their own fields. I asked questions. A lot of questions. I wanted to understand the daily decisions that truly move the needle. I asked how they handled setbacks, staffing struggles, financial pressure, and public criticism. I studied not just their success, but their resilience.
I continue to lean into those relationships today. Leadership is not a solo journey.
What I have learned through this process is that entrepreneurship is less about eliminating risk and more about managing response.
I cannot control:
• Market conditions
• Social media narratives
• Other people’s decisions
• Every unforeseen obstacle
What I can control is remarkably small:
• My thoughts
• My words
• My actions
• My reactions
Managing those four things well determines the tone of my day. It shapes how I lead my staff. It influences how I handle difficult conversations. It impacts how ideas are executed. Ultimately, it affects how The Fox Den Academy serves our scholars and our community.
In many ways, opening The Fox Den did more than launch a school—it refined me as a leader.
I am still learning.
Still growing.
Still stretching beyond my comfort zone.
And that is exactly what we ask of our scholars every day.
Better tomorrow than yesterday.
Pricing:
- Infant/Walkers: $235-285/week
- 2’s/3’s/4’s: $210-260/week
- Before- After-School: $50-90/week
- Camps: $200-300/week
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefoxdenpreschool.com
- Instagram: @joshhillgeorgia
- Facebook: @thefoxden,anearlylearningacademy
