Itasca Dist. 10 names new Peacock prinicpal

To prepare for the retirement of Reinhard Nickisch, the longtime principal at F.E. Peacock Middle School in Itasca, officials have hired Brian Faulkner to lead the school in the 2012-13 school year.

Faulkner currently serves as the assistant principal at Heineman Middle School in Algonquin. Itasca Elementary District 10 officials say he brings a wealth of experience.

“He is extremely well qualified for the position,” said District 10 Superintendent Marcia Tornatore. “He is skilled in implementing numerous strategies that have been shown to improve performance in middle-school students.”

Faulkner also formerly served as dean of students at Jane Addams Middle School in Bolingbrook, and was chosen from more than 30 initial candidates three finalists for the post at Peacock.

As part of the interview process, Faulkner was screened by both District 10 staff and parents.

Faulkner will begin his new role in summer 2012, following Nickisch’s retirement. When he steps down, Nickisch will have served the district for 26 years. Tornatore said Nickisch leaves with numerous accomplishments, including overseeing Peacock’s transformation from a junior high into a middle school in the early 1990s. He has also served on the village of Itasca’s youth council and several parent advisory committees.

“Through his leadership, the school continues to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (under No Child Left Behind) and achieves high scores on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test,” Tornatore said.

Nickisch also shepherded Peacock through technological upgrades in the classrooms, and was a strong advocate for implementing a broadcast studio for students. Today, students create a daily news segment that is broadcast into each classroom using high-tech equipment.