Riverside-Brookfield High School Superintendent Kevin Skinkis announced Wednesday morning that Assistant Principal Kristin Smetana will serve as interim principal of the school for the 2014-15 school year — and she clearly has the inside track on keeping the job permanently.
According to Skinkis, next year will essentially serve as an audition for Smetana in the principal’s job.
“I think it’s in the best interest of the district to provide her an opportunity to work with the staff, students and parents to see if she can be the principal for Riverside-Brookfield High School in the future,” said Skinkis in a press release issued Wednesday morning.
“Her deep understanding of curriculum and instruction will provide RB High School with the instructional leadership needed at the building level to guide students and staff in making significant growth on the established district goals,” Skinkis added.
Skinkis will evaluate Smetana’s performance after the first semester of the 2014-15 school year and determine a course of action for the future at that time.
Smetana is finishing her second year as RBHS assistant principal of curriculum and instruction. She was hired in 2012 after serving as a math teacher at Hinsdale Central High School for seven years, the last two as department chairwoman.
The principal’s job opened up in February when Principal Pamela Bylsma announced she would be resigning at the end of the school year to become assistant superintendent of academics at Hinsdale Central High School.
District 208 school board President Matthew Sinde expressed confidence in the appointment.
“The board is confident that Kevin would not have made this recommendation if it was not in the best interest of RB, or the district for that matter,” said Sinde. “The board is excited to see how Kristin will handle her new responsibilities.”
For a full story, see the March 19 edition of the Landmark.
