An educator with 12 years experience as a principal for elementary, middle and high schools has been named the new principal of Westmoor School in Northbrook.
The Northbrook District 28 Board of Education approved Maria Eck for the job during its meeting Tuesday. Eck developed her leadership skills in Fairfax County Schools, Virginia, where she has worked for the past 18 years, according to a news release.
She is currently the principal of Spring Hill Elementary School in McLean, Virginia.
According to the release, Eck was selected after a comprehensive search process. The search began by creating a candidate profile based on feedback from staff and parent surveys. Eight candidates were selected to interview with an administrative team, and five finalists advanced to interview with a team of Westmoor teachers and parents.
Using feedback from the interview teams, Superintendent Jason Pearson determined Maria Eck is the right person to lead Westmoor School next school year, the release said.
“The Westmoor community identified through survey feedback that they wanted someone who makes decisions in the best interest of students, has excellent communication skills, and shows warmth, humor, and interest in others,” Pearson said in the release. “Ms. Eck comes to Northbrook 28 with extensive experience as a school leader and her skills and background are a perfect match for Westmoor Elementary School.”
Members of the school interview team commented that her energy is infectious and that she wants people to feel important and involved.
Eck began her career at Miami-Dade County Public School, FL as an elementary teacher, including gifted/talented and bilingual education, the release said. She was named an assistant principal for an elementary school there in 2003 before moving to Virginia in 2005.
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She has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Miami, FL, and earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education cum laude at Florida International University. She is working on her dissertation for an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Virginia Tech.
“I look forward to getting to know the students, collaborating with staff and working together with families to continue to build on the welcoming culture of Westmoor School,” Eck said in a video address sent to parents.
Eck replaces Mary Sturgill, who has accepted a district administrator position with a different district.