Mark Doolan has been appointed as the new principal of Forest Grove Elementary School following former principal Mikel Brogan’s departure.
Doolan began teaching in 1986 and has dedicated his entire career to School District 27, according to superintendent Mark Wintjes.
“He has taught at Anaheim Lake Elementary - Junior Secondary School, Likely Elementary - Junior Secondary School and, since 1991, Mark has taught at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO). I wish him well in this new position.”
Doolan says he’s energized, excited and looking forward to it, adding that it’s a great opportunity.
“I’ve been doing math for about the last 10 years. Previous 15 years I did biology,” he says. “It’s almost like a whole career change. It’s exciting to take on a new challenge. I was ready for a new challenge.”
There are definitely some things he’s looking forward to doing, he says.
“I went out to visit the school and that really confirmed that this feels like a really good fit for myself and I hope for the school because I’m really familiar with rural schools. I attended a rural elementary school myself when I was a kid.”
He says he’s most excited to work with the staff and the strong parent group, adding that he really enjoyed the students when he went to visit the school. It looks like a very supportive community, he says.
“It feels to me like a really ideal opportunity to go do some work and to help them become what I think could even be a better school. They’re an outstanding school and that’s what’s drawn me to them. I really like what I saw from top to bottom.”
Doolan will likely be starting sometime in the month of April as they are looking for a replacement for him at PSO.
“If we found a suitable replacement, it would be right after spring break. If not, it would be at the end of April.”