Grafflin Principal Search is Under Way

The search for a new principal at Douglas G. Grafflin Elementary School has yielded about 100 applicants, Chappaqua school officials announced at a school board meeting on Thursday.

Advertisements were taken out in The New York Times and Education Week, said Andrew Selesnick, who is an assistant superintendent for leadership development and human resources. 

Selesnick said that a committee made up of teachers, parents and administrators would interview candidates.

The first round of candidates and interviews would the first week in February, he said, with a second round the following week, which would include tours of the school. A third interviewing round, which would include finalists, would be during the third week of February, and would include a day's worth of time spent in the school, including observation of instruction. It would also include interacting with Superintendent Lyn McKay and Assistant Superintendent for Curiculum and Instruction Eric Byrne. 

“It's a lengthly and intensive process," Selesnick said.

A recommended candidate could be given by late February or early March, Selesnick said. However, if it is determined that there were no suitable candidates, then the search would start over, he added. 

The school district is doing a rare search for a Grafflin principal because Michael Kirsch is retiring at the end of the school year. There will be another search status update at the school board's Jan. 30 meeting, according to an agenda for it.