Park HS principal leaving for central office job

RACINE Park High School Principal Dan Thielen will leave his leadership post at the school Oct. 15 for a human resources job at Racine Unifieds central office, the district announced Tuesday.

Thielen, a Racine native and Parks principal for the past six years, will serve as interim executive director of human resources, filling a spot vacated when Steve Hejnal retired Sept. 30.

Thielen said district officials asked if he would be interested in the position and he said yes, choosing to take on the new job to enhance his district-level experience and understanding.

Im enrolled in a superintendent program through Cardinal Stritch and Im looking to get my superintendent license, he explained. Ive always been one in this district who wanted to understand all aspects of running a school district, not only being a principal or a teacher but the central office side too.

Thielen was selected for the human resources position because of his experience with elementary, middle and high schools as well as with staffing and scheduling, Unified spokeswoman Stacy Tapp said.

An email about the change was sent to staff Tuesday, Thielen said.

Thielens directing principal job will be filled on an interim basis by Park Blue School Principal Dennis Christensen. The Blue School principal post will get filled by Park Spanish teacher Tana Winski, and her job will be filled by a long-term substitute, Thielen said.

When asked what hell miss about Park, 1901 12th St., Thielen quickly replied, Everything.

Im gonna really miss everything. The staff, the staff is wonderful. The students. Im gonna to miss the spirit of this place. Theres such positivity that flows through this building.

Thielen has heard some staff speculate he is being moved out of Park on purpose because of the schools achievement levels. But thats not the case at all, he said.

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Park HS principal leaving for central office job