Peggie Maniscalco will retire as Culver School principal at the end of the 2017-2018 school year. She announced her decision at the school board meeting on Nov. 14, 2017.
In a letter to Culver students, parents and staff, Mrs. Maniscalco said, “I have been so lucky to be a part of a school community that embraces its rich diversity and individuality while instilling respect for differences. The staff and parents truly want what is best for the students, and support the education of the whole child. I have been blessed to be able to be involved in the lives and education of so many terrific children and I will miss them as if they were my own.”
“We wish Mrs. Maniscalco much happiness in her retirement and thank her for her 18 years of dedicated service — both as principal and teacher — to the students of the Niles community,” said District 71 Superintendent John Kosirog.
Mrs. Maniscalco received a bachelor’s degree in education and holds master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction and in public health. She began her career teaching science at middle schools in Maywood and Lake Forest. She went on to work in the business world, where she used her public-health background to develop corporate wellness programs for Baxter Healthcare and Amoco.
She returned to education in 1999 and joined the Culver staff as a full-time teacher a year later, working first as a fourth-grade classroom teacher and then as a science teacher for seventh and eighth graders. She also served as the faculty sponsor for the Culver student council.
She stepped into the principal’s role on an interim basis in January 2011 and was then selected for the permanent position from a field of 65 applicants in April of that year. She started formally as principal in July 2011.
Retiring as principal “has not been an easy decision or one that I take lightly,” Mrs. Maniscalco said. “It is with a bit of a heavy heart that I move into the next phase of my life. As my children move into different phases of their lives I want the flexibility to support them. I would like to spend time with my ever-supportive husband and try my hand at some new things, as I add chapters to my Maniscalco anthology.”
She added, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for my 18 years as a part of the Culver family and for all that you have done to make it a wonderful experience.
District 71 will begin the search for a new principal in January 2018. Information about the search process will be posted on the district website as soon it is available.