District 58 Hires New Kingsley Principal

The Downers Grove Grade School 58 Board of Education has appointed a new principal to lead Kingsley School next school year.

The board voted unanimously Monday to hire Mark Stange, the current principal of Wood View Elementary School in Valley View School District 365U. He will replace Charles Purdom, who will retire at the end of June.

He will begin in District 58 on July 1 at an annual salary of $96,000, according to district documents.

Stange is in his 10th year at Wood View, having served as assistant principal for four years prior to that. He said that what he enjoys most about education is seeing the "a-ha moment" on children’s faces—and, as a principal, seeing those same looks on the faces of teachers and staff. 

“We all learn something every day, and it’s that excitement and joy of learning that keeps me moving ahead, too,” Stange said, adding that he is looking forward to joining the District 58 team.

“I’ve been so impressed with everyone I’ve met throughout my recent experiences, and I’m already very anxious to begin meeting and working with my new team," he said. I can feel the positive energy and collaborative spirit wherever I have gone in District 58, and my philosophy of ‘children first’ fits that of District 58."

Superintendent Kari Cremascoli said the interview team is confident that Stange will be a wonderful addition to District 58.

“We were extremely impressed with Stange’s collaborative and child-focused leadership style, his skills as an instructional leader, his knowledge of data-informed decision-making and instructional technology, his tremendous prior success as a principal, his ability to nurture and support shared decision-making and a strong school community, and his clear commitment to keeping kids first,” she said in a statement.

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