First round of MPS principal recommendations emerge

Because of retirements and other factors, MPS has a large number of schools getting new principals and the list of the first 21 new principal recommendations has emerged.

The recommendations — below — are made by superintendent Dr. Gregory Thornton and must be approved by the school board. The list of candidates will likely be presented to the board’s Finance and Personnel Committee next week.

Among those recommended by the superintendent was Mike Roemer as new principal at Reagan High. The Reagan school community worked hard to get Roemer — who has served as acting principal since veteran principal Julia D’Amato retired earlier this year — appointed to the run the school on a permanent basis.

A second round of interviews will fill more positions in coming weeks. The superintendent didn’t make a recommendation after the first round of interviews for at least two schools. Those schools — MacDowell Montessori and Bay View High — will likely go through the process again in the second round.

Nearly 40 positions will reportedly be filled during the two rounds. That’s about 20 percent of the district’s roughly 180 schools.

The new principals will undergo training over the summer to be ready to start the coming school year in their new buildings.

Tyrone Nichols, Cass Street*
Juan Baez, Hopkins-Lloyd*
Jeff Krupar, Dover Street-Tippecannoe*
Thresessa Childs, Carson Academy of Science*
Keona Jones, Thurston Woods
Mike Roemer, Ronald Reagan IB High School
Diane Rosado, Project Stay
Wendy Alexander, Fairview
Rae Ellen Sena, Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning
Eric Rian, Academy of Accelerated Learning
Jacqueline Jolly, Carver Academy
Erik Conner, Clarke Street
Stephanie Maney, Curtin Leadership Academy
Nancy Martinez, Kagel School
Deborah Jolitz, Kluge School
Andrew Vitrano, Manitoba School
Joe DiCarlo, Maryland Avenue Montessori
Tiffany Fisher, River Trail School
Keith Carrington, 65th Street School
Raymond Unanka, Stuart School
Sally Schumacher, Whitman School

*–Reassigned to principal positions. The others listed are recommended for promotion or appointment by the superintendent and must be approved by the board.