This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
Independence Charter School, one of the most sought-after charters in the city, is looking for a new CEO after the departure of founding principal Jurate Krokys.
The school’s board of trustees says it is seeking a CEO "who will bring expertise and leadership experience in primary education, a clear vision for our school’s future, and an abiding commitment to developing young global citizens."
The board has hired an outside consultant and is conducting focus groups for parents to give them input on the search.
Independence, founded in 2001 by a group of parents and community members, is a K-8 school with an enrollment of 800. It aims to teach its students to speak two languages by the time they graduate, and it builds its curriculum around international understanding.
Krokys, reached via email, said that her tenure at Independence had been "one of the best learning journeys for me" and that she considered herself lucky to have led the school for so long.