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Pica picked for principal at Kennedy Elementary

JANESVILLE — An internal candidate is the apparent next principal of Kennedy Elementary School in Janesville.

Superintendent Karen Schulte is recommending Marshall Middle School assistant principal Jay Pica for the post. The school board will consider the request at its meeting Tuesday, May 26.

Pica has been at Marshall since 2002. Before that, he was an administrative intern for one year and a math teacher for three years for the Oregon School District. He also taught in Portage and in Florida.

Pica would replace Principal Niel Bender, who retires June 30.

Pica holds a master's degree in educational leadership. Schulte recommends a salary of $97,726 for a 218.5–day contract.

Schulte said in a news release that Pica is "highly recommended by staff, administration, and others with whom he has worked. I believe his personality is an excellent match for Kennedy as he follows the extraordinary leadership of retiring Principal Niel Bender."

Pica was chosen from a pool of 112 applicants. A selection committee that included Kennedy teachers, a principal, support staff and a parent interviewed five candidates.

Director of Administrative and Human Services Steve Salerno selected two of the five, Pica and Veronica McMahon, a learning support teacher at Roosevelt School.

Another committee—comprising Kennedy staff, a parent, Schulte, Salerno and other administrative staff—interviewed Pica and McMahon.

Schulte has three more elementary principal jobs to fill.