BUCKTOWN — A Bucktown school where the principal quit last September has pared down the list of finalists for his replacement and is inviting parents and teachers to hear from the candidates Wednesday night.
Drummond Montessori, 1845 W. Cortland St., has been searching for a new principal since Mark Neidlinger announced his resignation after having served in the position about 14 years.
Two interim principals have held down the fort since Drummond's Local School Council started a lengthy process of finding a replacement.
The forum, to be held from 6-9 p.m. at nearby Pulaski School, 2230 W. McLean Ave., will give the community a chance to hear from three finalists.
Finalists include Eric Fay, the acting assistant principal at Jones College Prep; Kathleen Valente, assistant principal at George Washington High School; and Raynell Walls, assistant principal at Volta Elementary.
Fay, who has been in his temporary position at Jones College Prep since January, also made the cut as a finalist for principal at Hyde Park's Ray Elementary and participated in the school's forum last week.
In a panel format, each candidate will make an opening statement, and then they'll respond to questions that have been submitted a head of time, according to Jonathan Goldman, the LSC's chairman.
The LSC will gather feedback from the attendees at the end of the forum before meeting Thursday evening to make a decision, he said.
Whoever gets the job will have big shoes to fill. Neidlinger, described upon his resignation as "the heart" of the school by one parent, is credited with helping to transform Drummond into Chicago Public School's first Montessori school more than nine years ago.
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