New Glenbard East principal a familiar face

Glenbard East High School's next principal will be a familiar face.

Assistant Principal for Instruction Shahe Bagdasarian has been chosen to fill the school's top slot, which will be vacated on July 1 when current Principal Josh Chambers becomes Glenbard High School District 87's assistant superintendent for human resources.

"We're going to miss Mr. Chambers. He's a very well-liked leader in this building, but I am going to look forward to continuing the work that we've already started here," Bagdasarian said.

Before becoming the school's assistant principal for instruction, Bagdasarian was its assistant principal for student services. Bagdasarian also worked as a dean of students and special education teacher at York High School in Elmhurst before coming to District 87.

He is currently working on his doctoral degree in educational leadership.

Bagdasarian said East is like a "second home" that has "spectacular" faculty and great students.

"Our kids are phenomenal here," he said. "We have outstanding students that are model citizens and good role models."

And as the soon-to-be principal, Bagdasarian has many goals for the school.

He said he wants to see more students taking Advanced Placement classes and summer school courses.

"We want to see students take advantage of summer school, it is one of the most underutilized programs that schools offer not just here but everywhere," Bagdasarian said. "We want our students to take advantage of that because we feel they'll be stronger students if they participate in summer school."

He said the high school also wants to continue strengthening the partnership with its sender schools. In addition, Bagdasarian wants to make sure the school is supporting all of its students, no matter where they fall on the socioeconomic spectrum.

"We want to make sure we're servicing and providing for all of our students here," he said.