Cary D-26 Hires New Administrator

Cary School District 26 Board of Education approved Valerie McCall to become the new director of curriculum and instruction for the 2011-2012 school year.

"I was very impressed with her," Board member Julie Jette said. "I think  she will be an asset to the district."

The district screened 27 applicants, interviewed six candidates and there was a final round interview of three candidates.

Interviews were conducted by the Superintendent Brian Coleman, central office administrators and a board member.

"Following the final interview and the performance exercise, the
committee unanimously agreed that Mrs. McCall was the best candidate for the position," Coleman said in a district memo.

McCall has experience as an elementary teacher, having taught kindergarten, first grade and third grade.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement and is Nationally Board Certified in Pre-K through third grade. McCall also has a Master’s Degree in Leadership in Education and Administration.

For the past 5 years, McCall has worked as the Director of Reading in Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 in Elmwood Park, Il.

McCall’s expertise and understanding of reading, balanced literacy, and RTI are areas of strength that align with the current direction of the District’s curriculum and instruction, Coleman said in the memo. 

He said, Mrs. McCall throughout the interview process clearly communicated her desire to work with all stakeholders for the betterment of the district.

McCall will enter into a 12-month, single-year contract at a salary of
$93,000 that will begin July1, 2011 and end June 30, 2012.

Mary Dudek, who currently holds the director of curriculum and instruction position has been in the district for four years and her term ends on June 30.

However, there has been some about not replacing Dudek and using those funds to put more bodies in the classrooms.

At the June 20 committee of the whole meeting, Coleman and board member Kevin Carrick said they feel the director of curriculum and instruction position is needed

"I don’t think we have time to weigh the option of not changing the position,"board member Chris Jenner said.

Jenner added that the board will be doing a full review of the administration positions.