Follow-up: Orrington Principal Search

Dear Orrington Community,

I hope your summer is off to a fantastic start! I wanted to share an update on our search process for the next Orrington principal.

By now you have likely received Interim Principal Josh Seldess’ message announcing his departure from Orrington. Mr. Seldess has been a valued member of our school leadership team for nearly a decade. He has always kept students at the center, been compassionate in his leadership, and valued the ideals of collaboration and building a strong community. I know he will be missed by Orrington and our District 65 team yet we wish him the very best as he embarks on this exciting next chapter.

Transparency is one of my core values, so it’s important to me to be candid with you. Mr. Seldess was selected as the next Orrington principal after he emerged as the strong front-runner in our interview process. He has also been a proven leader in District 65 for a number of years. Ultimately his career path led him in a different direction. Mr. Seldess expressed the need to follow his passion and accept another opportunity that he felt was something that he could not pass by. We know this was an extremely difficult decision for him and his departure is definitely bittersweet for District 65.

We reconvened our interview committee and are working to name a new leader no later than mid-July. We heard the desire for a leader who effectively communicates, problem-solves, and helps to build and strengthen community. We still believe we have strong candidates and are excited about what the future holds. In the meantime, we will work closely with Mr. Seldess and Ms. Yoo to ensure summer planning is well-in-hand and we can start the new school year on a joyful note!

Please stay tuned for an update. Thank you for your continued support. Wishing you lots of summer fun!

Dr. Angel Turner (she/her)
Superintendent