Rookie Chicago Principal Faces Early Challenges

David Schaper:

At the John D. Shoop Academy on Chicago's South Side, Principal Lisa Moreno ushers students inside for an early breakfast.

She greets her uniformed flock, then heads to the playground, where she keeps a close eye on some of the eighth graders who are already testing her staff.

"You just try to make sure that they don't think that they run the school," she says.

Moreno is one of 170 new principals in the Chicago public school system this year. Since 2004, more than 350 of the school system's principals have retired, taking advantage of early retirement incentives. Like Chicago, many other school systems across the country are facing the same turnover, as baby boomer principals near retirement age. And for the rookie principals, challenges come early and often.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at September 17, 2007 11:59 AM
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