The search for Northwood’s new principal has begun as Irvine Unified School District gathers feedback from students, staff and the wider school community.

Eamonn O’Donovan, IUSD’s Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and Keith Tuominen, Executive Director of Secondary Education, held a staff meeting on April 11 to discuss the process, which includes a survey and three rounds of interviews, one of which will include a panel of staff, students and parents.

“We have to understand what is going well for the school and what changes might help the school grow further,” Tuominen said. “Because each of our school communities can be quite different, it’s the input that helps us realize details of what would be the best match here at Northwood High School.”

Tuominen also spoke with ASB to solicit their input. ASB president senior Lily Ye expressed preference for someone with an understanding of Northwood’s culture.

“That means someone that has been with Northwood and understands what is important to us as a community and what makes Northwood, Northwood,” Ye said.

A survey was also released to the Northwood students, staff and families to ask for input on the school’s strengths, current challenges and what they hope to see in a new principal. It will remain open until noon today.

Responses from the survey will help shape interview questions for candidates when the formal hiring process begins on May 1.

“We know that there are lots of different ways to be a successful high principal,” O’Donovan said at the staff meeting. “Our high school principals have been very successful. They tend to have the ability to listen to staff, the ability to discern what’s important and they’re not micromanagers. It’s just that ability to engage with people and with students.“

The final decision is expected to be made in mid-to-late May.