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player ready...The Hinsdale High School District 86 board has appointed the new principal of Hinsdale South High School.
Patrick Hardy, former principal for Proviso East High School in Maywood, will take on the role July 1, when current principal Arwen Pokorny Lyp will officially step down to take the same position at Downers Grove South High School.
Hardy’s appointment was approved at the board’s Feb. 24 meeting
Before board president Terri Walker called the vote for Hardy’s approval, she turned to Cheryl Moore, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, who said the interview process was thorough and involved all the stakeholders of the Hinsdale South community.
“Dr. Hardy will add incredible value to the district,” Moore said, adding that students, staff and parents had a say in the decision.
The board voted unanimously to give Hardy a two-year contract with a starting base salary of $176,000.
Before voting yes, member Jeff Waters shouted out to Eric Martzolf, South’s assistant principal for curriculum, who was also a candidate for the top spot at South.
“I wanted to give a nod to Eric Martzolf,” Waters said. “There are a lot of good candidates in the field. He’s been here for about 13 years. We’re getting a tremendous person in Dr. Hardy. Hats off to him for what it’s worth. My condolences to a great leader here, Mr. Martzolf.”
Hardy was in attendance at the meeting Thursday, where he thanked the board directly for the opportunity to lead Hinsdale South.
“I sincerely thank you for every single minute you spent contemplating, imagining and thinking about the future of South and what it will take to achieve the schools goals as well as the districts goals,” he said. “Thank you to the search committee and the district’s leadership team and every community member who contributed to the gauntlet — I mean the process — that I enjoyed very, very much.”
Hardy’s comments garnered smiles from both the board members and several of those in the audience.
“Please know that I am proud and humbled at this moment. I Intend to work hard, I intend to have a little fun but also please know that I feel the weight of history in this moment. I acknowledge the high standards that so many phenomenal educators have set long before I arrived,” Hardy added.
Hardy has 15 years of experience as a principal and instructional leader in a variety of K-12 settings, which include his six year stint at Proviso East High School and five years spent at Rockford School District 205 (five years).
He currently serves as the executive director of equity and student success for Oak Park and River Forest High School, and began his career in education as a teacher in Boston, Massachusetts.
“He has an extensive background in education, a wealth of experience in a variety of leadership roles and a proven track record for success. I believe these qualities, coupled with his impressive array of accomplishments, strong commitment to education and passionate advocacy for children, will help foster the school’s continued growth and support our students in the pursuit of their ideal future,” Superintendent Prentiss said in an email.