Meet new Neuqua Valley High School principal Bob McBride

Bob McBride is principal of Glenbard East High School in Lombard. Beginning next year, he'll become principal of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville.

Age: 41

Family: Katie, my wife of 19 years, and two daughters, ages 6 and 4.

Grew up in: Oak Park

Your ultimate pet: A bison. My daughters wanted to bring one home after we went out West this past summer. We thought it would do a great job keeping the grass from getting too high and I would not have to mow the lawn so much.

What's your education philosophy in one sentence? When you are at school, and you look into the face of any student, see the face of a child you care about deeply, a son, daughter, nephew, niece, and create the school, lesson or conversation you would like them to have.

Personal hero? Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln

How did you wind up in education? I was inspired by the many great teachers I have had in my education and by my parents, who, early on, helped me love learning and ideas. Also, my wife is a teacher, and she remains the example of compassion, humor and intuition I would like to have as an educator. I met her just when I was trying to decide between two career paths -- education and the U.S. Marine Corps. I chose education and married her!

What is your dream vacation? For relaxation, a beautiful, white, sandy beach with plenty of sunshine and enough time to stroll with my wife, chase my two girls in the waves and play in the sand. For culture and history, Tokyo, Kyoto, Beijing, Shanghai, Tibet, Bangkok and Singapore, and enough time to see it all with my family.

If you won the biggest lottery in history you'd ... take care of my family and then give it away to those in greater need than me.

Favorite reality show? "The Amazing Race."

Cubs or Sox? Cubs!

If you could invite one literary character to dinner, who would you pick and why? It would have to be two: Tom Joad from Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" and the Invisible Man from Ellison's "Invisible Man." Both are powerful voices of protest and speak for those who are marginalized in American society. Whatever they would say would be worth listening to.

Musical guilty pleasures? Old school rap music: Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five and Public Enemy.

Favorite childhood book? "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats.

Bungee jumping, rappelling or parachuting? None of the above. I am too afraid of heights!

What's the most innovative program you've seen so far at school? Glenbard East's music department and a program at one of our partner schools called "Taking Care of Business." Glenbard East belongs to a network called 12 Under 12, and we are sponsored by the National Staff Development Council.

Blue Valley High School is in our network, and they have a time set aside every Thursday when all students take care of any issues, test make up, homework or meeting with teachers, that would pull their achievement up.

Latest new "it" word you've heard from a student? I am about a decade behind in slang so I still use words like "chillin' " and "kickin' it." Not very up to date! Very '90's!

What lasting impression do you hope to leave? That it is always worthwhile to be open to change.

What's the worst influence on today's youth? Apathy about the future.

Thing that makes today's students distinct? They have access to more information than any generation ever and they have the technology and thinking skills to put that access to good use.

If I could change one thing about the world it would be ... using violence to solve problems and challenges.

If you could paint your office any color it would be … soft yellow.