Peggy Maniscalco Named New Culver Principal

Sixty-five educators applied for the job of principal, but Niles Elementary District 71 chose a candidate that staff, parents and community members already knew well.

Last week it hired Peggy Maniscalco, who has worked in the district for 12 years and currently serves as interim assistant principal, as principal. She starts her official duties July 1.

Most of the applicants for the job lived in the Chicago area, though one was from Texas. Amy Kruppe, District 71 superintendent, said she and Kristen Ninni, the district's director of student services, interviewed 12 candidates, a group of district stakeholders in the district interviewed five, and then a group of parents interviewed the remaining two. 

"The parents told what they felt were the strengths of the candidates at meetings on April 6th and 7th," Kruppe said.

"For us, Peggy is a known factor. She's been here for 12 years. She's pretty great. She's wonderful with kids and families."

Tina Nielsen, a Culver parent who was elected to the district's board on April 5 and will assume her duties as a board member next week, said, "The parents are very happy, myself included, with the new principal, Mrs. Maniscalco. We feel confident she's going to do a great job."