Meet your principal

For the rest of the school year, we'll feature an occasional series in the Neighbor section introducing readers to the men and women who sit in the corner offices of schools across DuPage County.

Beyond learning why they entered education, you'll find personal details, such as whether they head to the North or South Side for a baseball game. We hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we have.

-- Catherine Edman

Craig Barringer, principal, Spring Wood Middle School, Hanover Park, Keeneyville District 20

Age: 54

Family: Wife, Diana, daughter, Abigail and son, Tim

Grew up in: Des Plaines

Your ultimate pet: Golden retriever.

What's your education philosophy in one sentence? Prepare the students for life.

Personal hero: My father.

How did you wind up in education? Both parents were educators and I had the chance to see the impact my father had on those around him every day. It was a job he truly loved.

What is your dream vacation? Seeing different national and state parks in the United States with my family.

If you won the biggest lottery in history you'd … besides the usual -- taking care of the family and traveling -- I would love to build an addition on to Spring Wood Middle School that would include an auditorium, a competition gymnasium, a state of the art library, and a warm and welcoming cafeteria.

Favorite reality show? "Dancing With the Stars"

Cubs or Sox? Cubs, definitely!

If you could invite one literary character to dinner, who would you pick and why? Sherlock Holmes. I'd love to pick his brain.

Musical guilty pleasures? Anything by Elvis or Aaron Neville.

Favorite childhood book? "Follow the Leader."

Bungee jumping, rappelling or parachuting? Rappelling.

What's the most innovative program you've seen so far at school? A sixth-grade "charter" strategic learning class -- this involves parents learning how to help their children read better.

Latest new "it" word you've heard from a student? "Sick."

What lasting impression do you hope to leave? I want the students of Spring Wood to know the staff cared about them and helped prepare them for life. I would love to have teachers truly understand that they become better teachers when they have built strong caring relationships with their students.

What's the worst influence on today's youth? The need to have everything now!

Thing that makes today's students distinct? Today's students have learned to deal with diversity and technology far better than those before them.

If you could change one thing about the world it would be … I would love to have the world come together as a large community for the betterment of all.

If you could paint your office any color it would be … doesn't really matter much to me.