New administrator to join Red Devils

Hinsdale Central High School will soon welcome a new assistant principal to campus.

At their April 13 meeting, Hinsdale High School District 86 Board members approved the hiring of Christopher Cirrincione to serve as Hinsdale Central’s assistant principal for curriculum and instruction. Cirrincione has served as assistant principal at Palatine High School for the last two years. Prior to that he was a social studies and Spanish teacher in Prospect and Elk Grove high schools for six years. He also was an adjunct professor at Quincy University for two years.

Reached by email this week, Cirrincione said he’s eager to assume his post.

“I am honored to join the Red Devil Nation. I am excited to work alongside the amazing staff at Hinsdale Central and District 86 and look forward to supporting the continued success of an already high-achieving community,” he wrote. “To me education is the ability for us, as educators, to share our passions with students and provide them with the opportunity to explore their interests and leave high school ready to excel in their next chapter.”

Hinsdale Central Principal Bill Walsh told the board Cirrincione will be a great addition to the team.

“I’m really looking forward to bringing on his energy and his passion for teaching, education and students,” Walsh said.

Cirrincione will replace Jessica Hurt, who in February was hired to be the next principal of York High School in Elmhurst. He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in Spanish from DePaul University. He is currently working toward a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Cirrincione’s one-year contract carries a salary of $145,000 and begins July 1.

Among other personnel moves at their meeting, board members also approved a one-year contract for Katie McHale to serve assistant director of special education at the Transition Center at an annual salary of $115,000. McHale has served as a special education teacher and transition and vocation coordinator in Community High School District 94 for six years.

And board members accepted the resignation of Patrice Payne, who became the district’s first director of institutional equity when she joined the district nearly two years ago.

Payne is expected to give her final annual report to the board at its Thursday, May 11, meeting.

Author Bio

Ken Knutson is associate editor of The Hinsdalean