Former Lowell principal moving to Gary’s Wirt/Emerson
By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent August 3, 2012 3:26PM
Adrian Richie, principal Lowell High School. | Provided Photo~Sun-Times Media ptmet
Updated: September 5, 2012 6:06AM
LOWELL — Former Lowell High School Principal Adrian Richie Jr. has been named the new head principal at Wirt/Emerson Visual and Performing Arts & High Ability Academy in Gary.
On Thursday, Tri-Creek School Board officials approved Richie’s resignation as the district’s director of special projects, an administrative position he took earlier this summer in a move to the front office from the high school.
The move was part of a number of changes in administration for Tri-Creek, said Superintendent Debra Howe. Michael Chelap, LHS assistant principal, will serve as interim principal for the 2012-2013 school year.
Howe said officials did put out a call for applicants for the principal’s position, but did not receive the response they wanted.
“The timing was really poor,” Howe said. They plan to advertise the position again in January for placement for the 2013-14 school year. Officials did receive about 60 applications for the assistant principal and newly created position dean of students.
LHS math teacher John Becker will become the high school’s first dean of students. He will also serve as a math coach. Shannon Richards, who comes from the Taylor Community School Corp. in Kokomo, will become LHS assistant principal. Oak Hill Elementary teacher Lisa Stoelb will become assistant principal at Lowell Middle School.
“I think that having a combination internal candidates and external candidates provides us a good variety in our administrative ranks. We have people who are committed to the vision and moving forward. I think interview teams did a good job of selecting their people,” Howe said.
Sarita Stevens, director of communications for Gary Public Schools, said Richie, who has been confirmed as principal at the academy, was one of several administrators hired by the school corporation for the 2012-13. The remainder of the appointments will be considered when the school board meets Tuesday.
Richie was one of several candidates for the principal’s position.
“Each of the candidates went before the interviewing panel that included some of our community partners, current administrators and district superintendent Cheryl Pruitt,” Stevens said.
Richie could not be reached for comment.
