Suzie Hackmiller Resigns as Principal from Holmes School

Suzie Hackmiller has resigned as the principal of Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School to accept the principal position at Harmony Elementary School in Kentucky.

The District 97 Board of Education accepted her resignation during its meeting this evening. It also approved the appointment of John McCauley as the interim principal for Holmes School.

McCauley will serve in this role for the duration of the 2015-16 school year, during which the district will conduct a formal search to find a permanent replacement for Hackmiller.

Below is a statement from Superintendent Carol Kelley:

I want to thank Suzie Hackmiller for the tremendous passion and steadfast leadership she exhibited throughout her tenure here in District 97. While I did not have the opportunity to work with Suzie, it is clear from my conversations with others that she is greatly respected and admired for her innovative approach to education and tireless advocacy on behalf of children. We commend her for her dedicated service, and wish her all the best in her new position.

When Suzie notified us of her pending departure from the district, we immediately began assessing and evaluating the options that were available for filling this important position. In the end, we decided to appoint John McCauley as the interim principal for a couple of reasons. First, John is an exemplary educator who has contributed to the school’s success both as a teacher and student support specialist during the past 10 years. We believe his skills, knowledge and expertise will enable us to maintain a strong sense of continuity in the building during this critical transition period, while also helping us meet the needs of our students and their families.

Second, the appointment of an interim will afford us ample time to conduct a formal and comprehensive search to find a permanent replacement for the position. As part of this search, which we anticipate will begin following the first of the year, we will work closely and collaboratively with our various stakeholders to identify a candidate who will build on Holmes’ tradition of excellence and help our students learn, grow and achieve.

We will keep the community updated on the status of our search efforts, and appreciate everyone’s continued support of our schools and the children we serve.

Submitted by Oak Park Elementary School District 97
Photo 1: Suzie Hackmiller
Photo 2: John McCauley