Grosse Pointe Woods

District asks for community input in principal search

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Grosse Pointe North Principal Tim Bearden will spend his last day with the school district at the end of this month while officials will work on the search for a new leader at the high school.

Bearden is leaving to become chief academic officer and upper school director at Detroit Country Day School.

“This is a tremendous opportunity professionally that allows me the opportunity to focus on K-12 curriculum and instruction, but stay in direct contact with kids and teachers as the upper school principal at one of the nation’s top schools,” Bearden stated in an email to the staff. “Despite the wonderful nature of this opportunity, this was not a decision easily reached.

“Grosse Pointe North has been home not just to me, but to my family, as they have attended events and functions here with me. I love this school and the people who work here, and have made many lifelong friendships here. North has, without a doubt, the best staff with whom I have ever worked. The atmosphere of collegiality here, and the kids’ first approach make North a unique place.”

In the email, Bearden, who had been principal at the high school for six years, thanked everyone for making him part of the “North family.”

“While I am changing jobs, for now my family and I are staying in Grosse Pointe, and I will still be in the area and continue to advocate for North High School, its students and staff,” he said in the email.

Jon Dean, the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources and educational development, praised Bearden’s contribution to the high school in a district letter.

The district is asking staff, parents and students to complete a stakeholder survey that will be available on the district’s website, www.gpschools.org, through June 29. It will help give the district feedback on what community members would like to see in a new principal.

They also were planning to host a meeting at North for the community on June 20, after press time.

They were looking for parents to serve in the process, as well, such as through sitting on interview panels. He called stakeholder input in the process a major factor in finding the best candidate.

Both Dean and Grosse Pointe Public School System community relations specialist Rebecca Fannon said the district needed to take the proper time to find the best person to serve as the principal of North.

The district was looking to keep the vacancy posted for several weeks before doing interviews, which they were planning to start in July, according to Dean’s letter.

“Finding the perfect candidate is more important than how quickly we finish the process,” Fannon said. “We have an interim plan in case our timeline is too ambitious, but we’re confident the quality of North High School will attract highly qualified applicants.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.