SDA students, teachers, and parents will be able to voice their opinions about what they are looking for in a next principal on a survey, which has been sent via email and will be available until this Friday, according to SDUHSD Superintendent Eric Dill.

Principal Bjorn Paige announced last month that he was leaving for a new principal job in Oregon this summer. The survey asks students to specify the characteristics they would like to see from their next principal, their favorite aspect of SDA, and what they believe should be the focus of their next principal.

According to Dill, the unconventional method of using a survey to help with the process of choosing SDA’s next principal came as a result of parents and teachers expressing a wish to participate in the process.

“Since Mr. Paige announced he was leaving, I have spoken with many parents and teachers about their desire to have a voice in the selection of the new principal,” said Dill. “Online surveys are the most convenient way to seek feedback and also result in more open and honest responses than open forums, so I decided to create the survey.”

Dill also believes that SDA students, teachers, and parents will be able to provide essential information about what they are looking for in a principal that an outside administrator might find helpful.

“While I think I have a very good understanding of San Dieguito Academy, its students, history, and culture, it is crucial for me to hear from interested and engaged stakeholders about what qualities they want in their new principal and what is important to them about the school,” Dill said.

Dill hopes the survey will help them choose a new principal that will fit the SDA culture.

“We will use this information to help us choose a great, new principal who shares the values of SDA and has the vision to lead it into the future,” Dill said.

Candidates have until April 10 to apply, after which the district will start screening applicants for interviews. They are hoping to select a new principal by the end of April, Dill said.

To take the survey, see the link below:

https://goo.gl/forms/SIf8m8OI3ASLg60N2