Grayslake High narrowing field to replace retiring superintendent

Grayslake High School District 127 officials say they plan to hire a replacement for retiring Superintendent Catherine Finger by year's end.

School board President Ann Dingman said first-round interview questions have been complied for six finalists. Board members were scheduled to meet with the candidates behind closed doors this week.

Consultant School Exec Connect pared the applicants for District 127. Retired Highland Park/Deerfield High School District 113 Superintendent Linda Hanson heads the consultant's Illinois operations.

"We have six really good candidates to choose from," Dingman said.

The field is expected to be down to three superintendent candidates for interviews in November, she said. District 127's new boss is expected to be named by year's end.

Finger, 56, began as District 127's superintendent in the 2005-06 academic season. Her retirement will be official June 30.

As part of the process to find Finger's replacement, School Exec Connect culled information from about 90 people in focus group meetings and received 293 responses to an online survey to develop a superintendent profile. Questions explored areas including characteristics and skills the new hire should possess.

An ability to bring out the best in others topped the list of what the survey respondents most want in the new District 127 boss. Also listed were a deep knowledge of curriculum and instruction, excellent communication skills and being warm and approachable.

Finger came to Grayslake from Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128, where she was associate superintendent. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Finger was hired by District 128 in 1998 after three years as principal at Northwood Middle School in Highland Park.

She became an administrator in 1989 at Naperville Unit District 203. Finger began her education career teaching foreign language in Evanston in 1984.