MOUNT GREENWOOD — Chalese Conley Dunbar has been named the new principal at the Annie Keller Regional Gifted Center in Mount Greenwood.
Known by most students as Ms. Conley, she has served as assistant principal of the school at 3020 W. 108th St. since 2009, Local School Council chairperson Chad Syverson said Tuesday.
Conley will start in her new position Sept 18, replacing Delena Little, who served as principal for 5½ years. Little surprised many when she announced her retirement in July.
Conley "possesses deep knowledge of the Keller School community and holds the confidence and support of the staff. The LSC found this combination of attributes highly exceptional among the set of applicants," Syverson and LSC vice chair Kathern Williams wrote in an email to parents Tuesday afternoon.
Conley previously spent three years as a fourth grade teacher at Keller before becoming the school's assistant principal. Keller has 238 students in first through eighth grades. Prior to Keller, Conley worked at another CPS primary school from 1998-2006, Syverson said.
Conley was not immediately available for comment.
Keller is a selective-enrollment elementary school, commonly ranked among the best in Illinois. In fact, it tied for having the highest score in the state last year with Decatur Classical School in West Ridge on a standardized exam that focuses on problem-solving and critical thinking.
The PARCC or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exam is given annually to elementary school students in third- through eighth-grade.
"We are excited to work with Mrs. Conley Dunbar to continue to build on Keller’s long record of success," Syverson said.
