Effective April 1st, Dr. Crystal Riddick will join the administrative team as the fourth Assistant Principal at PHS. On March 17, the PPS Board of Education approved Dr. Crystal Riddick for the position following a district re-evaluation of PHS student needs. Riddick was transferred from Director of Special Education to Assistant Principal to provide more support for students at PHS.
“In my past role, I was able to work with the special education population, knowing all of that group of students, and I'm excited to get to know everyone within the school,” said Riddick.
Principal Cecilia Birge explained that she was made aware of Riddick’s position a few days prior to the March 17 Board Meeting where Riddick’s appointment was approved. Dafna Kendal, President of the Board, referred The Tower to Superintendent Michael LaSusa about staff appointments; LaSusa explained that the appointment was a result of ongoing administrative discussions, and referred the Tower to Birge. Birge noted that the appointment was not within her jurisdiction. Moreover, Dr. Angela Siso Stentz, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, did not respond to request for an interview.
“This is the district [and] administrative job,” said Birge. “From the district level, they're constantly looking for efficiency. They hire people based on needs in the district, [and her appointment was] just to inject more support for students and for the buildings, which I welcome.”
With the addition of Riddick, each assistant principal will be assigned to fewer students and to oversee different staff departments, with the goal of distributing the work more widely among the four. Riddick, specifically, will oversee the Physical Education, Safety and Security, and Facilities departments amongst various others.
“With the workload of the current assistant principals, [there] were a lot of tasks that they needed assistance with,” said Riddick. “Because I was already part of the administrative team and helping Ms. Birge in any way I could … that made me the right candidate for the position.”
Previously the Supervisor of Special Education, Riddick has worked at PHS for over eight years. During her time at PHS, Riddick worked closely with students with Individualized Education Programs. She will continue to do so in her new position, bringing in her expertise to help students at PHS.
“In her previous role, she worked with students with the highest level of needs in the Special Education department,” said Birge. “She brings a unique set of skills, and that will help us to inject more support to students, both academic and social emotional life.”
The job as Assistant Principal was not publicly advertised by the district before the decision was finalized by the Board. Aaron Thayer, an English teacher and member of the Princeton Regional Educational Association, was made aware of the decision a few days before the student and parent body were.
“On Friday [March 20], I saw the email,” said Thayer. “Maybe some people found out earlier, but the announcement was made on Friday.”
The transfer of Riddick to administration comes alongside concurrent changes to the district’s Special Education department. As the Special Education department reorganizes, the department also faces an approximately $400,000 decrease in funding. The role of Special Education supervisor will not be filled, but instead supervised by Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Margarita Baldeo, the various members of the Child Study Team alongside Elizabeth Murrin, Supervisor of Student Services at Princeton Middle School.
Riddick holds a master’s degree in Special Education Administration, as well as a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Before coming to PHS, Riddick started out as a special education teacher in North Caroline, before transitioning to Illinois as an assistant principal.
“As a previous building assistant principal in Illinois, I think it's very important to know the students that are sitting in front of you, and that means all students,” said Riddick. “My goal for myself is getting to know students outside of the special education world, getting to know the teachers … and seeing what their needs are.”
As assistant principal, Riddick aims to focus on promoting diversity and inclusivity at PHS to guarantee a high level of education for all students.
“We have different students here, different nationalities … students that look different, but we're all here for the same purpose,” said Riddick. “By just little steps, getting to know people, and not being afraid because someone looks different, [and] being accepting and being curious to want to know other people that you might not get to know on a daily basis.”