Neighbor News
Fierke's Mark French Leaving District 146
Central Middle School's Assistant Principal Bret Pignatiello named interim principal.
District 146 announced to staff and families of Fierke Education Center that Principal Mark French will be leaving the District. French has accepted a position out of state.
“We are sorry to see Mr. French go, but very excited for him as he takes this next step in his professional journey,” said Dr. Jeff Stawick, District 146 superintendent. “He has touched the lives of many students who have passed through the halls of Fierke and he will certainly be missed.”
French was hired by the District in 2007 and has served all nine years as the principal at Fierke.
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“While I am excited to begin this new adventure with my family, I will dearly miss my Fierke family,” said French. “If I could have hand-picked an elementary school community to serve, I could not have chosen better than the Fierke community.”
Bret Pignatiello has been named as the interim principal for the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year. He has been with the District as the assistant principal at Central Middle School for five years. The District will begin searching for a permanent replacement this winter.
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French’s last day at Fierke will be Friday, September 9 with Pignatiello beginning the following Monday. Making sure the staff and administrative teams at both schools have the appropriate amount of time to prepare for the change is a priority for the District.
“Our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible,” said Stawick. “I have every confidence that Mr. Pignatiello will continue to lead Fierke with the same values and professionalism that are standard at all District 146 schools and have been practiced by Mr. French over the last nine years.”
Letters informing parents of the change were sent home with Fierke students on Friday. Fierke will hold an assembly during the day on Tuesday to introduce the new principal to students, and will host a Community Coffee event 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday to give parents the opportunity to bid farewell to French and meet Pignatiello.
Community Consolidated School District 146 is comprised of Central Middle School, Fierke Education Center, Fulton School, Kruse Education Center, and Memorial School. Students from Tinley Park, Orland Park, and Oak Forest attend District 146 schools.
