La Grange-Area Principal Resigning Soon

La Grange IL

22 October, 2021

9:41 AM

Description

LA GRANGE PARK, IL — The principal of Park Junior High in La Grange Park announced Thursday he would resign next month, saying he has a "new and exciting opportunity." Phil Abraham, the principal for more than a decade, sent a mass email to Park families revealing his decision. He said he had accepted a new position outside of La Grange School District 102, but gave no details. He did not return a message for comment Friday morning. Abraham said his last official workday would be during the week of Nov. 8. "The invaluable experiences I have gained throughout my time at Park have best prepared me for this new and exciting opportunity," Abraham said in the email. "While the timing doesn't align perfectly, it is important to share that you can never properly prepare the timing of such opportunities." Abraham said he has been working with Superintendent Kyle Schumacher and Assistant Principal David Ontiveros on the transition. Ontiveros and Schumacher would follow up with more detailed information soon, Abraham said. In a statement to Patch on Friday, Schumacher said, "We are finalizing next steps and plan to make announcements at the end of next week at the latest." Abraham has been with the district for 17 years in all, including as an assistant principal and a co-principal. "Park has been a wonderful place to work throughout my years as an administrator, and I will cherish the opportunity I was given," Abraham said. "I am so proud of the remarkable growth and professionalism that I have witnessed each and every year. Our staff members have worked tirelessly to create and sustain an inclusive, welcoming, and safe learning environment at Park. I couldn't be more proud of the dedication and commitment I have observed throughout my 17 years." In the 2017-2018 year, Abraham's base salary was $116,000, according to the district's website. That information has not been updated online since then. More than 700 students attend Park Junior High, according to the Illinois Report Card website.