A veteran administrator who has been serving as interim principal for H.E. McCracken Middle School in Bluffton has been named the school’s new principal.
Lindsey Skirtich, an assistant principal at May River High since the school opened in 2016, has served this spring as interim principal at McCracken during the search for a permanent principal.
Her hiring for the permanent position was recommended by Interim Superintendent Herb Berg and approved by the Beaufort County Board of Education at its May 7 meeting.
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” Skirtich said. “Bluffton is my home, and it’s a privilege to be able to lead and advocate for our students and staff. I’m also very thankful for the school staff and parents and stakeholders who have been so supportive during my four months as interim principal. I know our students are going to do great things.”
Skirtich is no stranger to H.E. McCracken, having served as an assistant principal there for four years from 2012 to 2016. She previously taught English at McCracken and also at Bluffton High, where her peers honored her as the school’s Teacher of the Year in 2010.
Skirtich earned a Bachelor of Science degree in integrated language arts from Ohio University and a Master’s Degree in educational leadership from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently working toward an Education Specialist degree in educational leadership from The Citadel.
More than 60 educators applied for the principal’s position at McCracken, and all applications were screened to make certain that the candidates met the basic qualifications. A screening team reviewed the applications in depth and recommended candidates for personal interviews.
Next, a six-member interview committee met with the recommended candidates. That committee comprised a representative from the school’s PTO, the school’s teacher of the year as selected by the faculty, two principals of similar or “feeder” schools, district Chief Instructional Services Officer Bonnie Almond and Chief Human Resources Officer Alice Walton.
After each interview, committee members rated the candidate and those ratings were submitted to the superintendent, who then recommended Skirtich to the Board of Education.
