After fewer than six months at the helm of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Principal Mark Rasar is leaving — tomorrow, officials announced in a news release Monday.
According to the release, Rasar, who started at the Dominican Catholic school in July, is stepping down to take the role of CEO of Northern Kane Educational Corporation.
“This unexpected opportunity aligns closely with my interest in charter schools and the challenges they present,” Rasar stated in the release. “And it is much closer to my home in Arlington Heights. I couldn’t pass it up. I want to emphasize that this decision was not taken lightly, but it’s the right one for my family and me.”
His last day at Fenwick is Tuesday. It was not immediately clear when Rasar would start his new job.
“My short time at Fenwick has been rewarding, I have greatly enjoyed working with the students, faculty and parents,” he stated in the release.
The release explains that Rasar started at Fenwick in July after a nationwide search, and another one has begun to pick his replacement.
”We are going to miss Mark,” the Rev. Richard Peddicord, O.P., stated in the release. “The energy and fresh eye he brought to Fenwick made immediate, positive impacts on many fronts. However, we fully understand his desire to pursue this unique, new opportunity and we wish him great success.”
School leaders credit Rasar with implementing what they called a series of “important innovations” at Fenwick, including increasing the number of all-school liturgies and “Friar Fridays.”
Peddicord will serve as interim principal for the remainder of the current semester, the release states.