Joshua Carpenter to leave Daniel Wright as principal

Joshua Carpenter will resign later this month as principal at Daniel Wright Junior High School in Lincolnshire to return to his previous district and the opportunity to return to an elementary school.

Carpenter will officially serve his last day at Daniel Wright on June 30 where he will transition on July 1 to serve as principal at Central Road School, a kindergarten through sixth grade school in Palatine District 15.

"It was the right time and the right opportunity," he said.

Carpenter came to Lincolnshire-Prairie View District 103 in 2005 from Palatine District 15, where he served as principal at Lake Louise Elementary School. He also served as assistant principal at Lake Louise and a seventh- and eighth-grade history and language arts teacher.

He first served District 103 as Half Day School's principal in 2005. But he became principal at Daniel Wright Junior High School in 2006 following the resignation of Nathan Carter.

Carpenter said the move is an opportunity to get back to an elementary school. Central Road School is made up of 550 kindergarten through sixth grade students in Rolling Meadows.

Carpenter also noted the time commitment that after-school athletics requires at a junior high as part of his decision. He said returning to an elementary school was professionally and personally the right opportunity to pursue.

Carpenter said during his three years with District 103, he has worked with an incredible group of parents as well as staff and students. He said it is with mixed emotions he made the decision to move on.

While the school board officially approved Carpenter's resignation at its June 9 board meeting, Superintendent Larry Fleming said the district already has begun to interview candidates, including district staff to fill the position.

After several interviews with each candidate, including with teachers and support staff, the hope is to see a new principal get started some time in July, he said.

While assistant principal Jodie Benton will be a great asset to help a new principal make the transition to lead the school, Carpenter said he also is willing to help whoever takes his place to get started.

"I want to make sure the personal is successful and gets off to the right start," he said.

Fleming said Carpenter is an excellent educator and administrator who has served the district well the past three years both at Half Day and at Daniel Wright.

"At this point in his career, this is a good fit for him to move back to the elementary level," Fleming said. "We wish him well."