Finalists tapped for LWR principal

By JAMES A. JONES JR. - jajones1@bradenton.com

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LAKEWOOD RANCH — Two local assistant principals and one from Buffalo, N.Y., are the leading contenders to replace Mike Wilder as principal of Lakewood Ranch High School.

The three finalists are: Linda Nesselhauf, assistant principal at Manatee High School; Don Sauer, assistant principal at Lakewood Ranch High School; and Melanie Metz, an assistant principal from the Buffalo, N.Y., area, said Angela Essig, Manatee County director of secondary schools.

The finalists were selected Monday by a committee of district officials, a teacher, a school support representative and a school advisory committee member during day-long, closed-door interviews at the district office in Bradenton.

The public is invited to meet and question the finalists during a forum at 6:30 p.m. today at Lakewood Ranch High School.

In all, 16 educators applied for the job, which became open when Wilder was named district coordinator of school leadership development.

Lakewood Ranch was the only Manatee high school to receive an “A” grade from the state this year.

The other five candidates interviewed Monday included:

n Carl Auckerman, assistant principal at Palmetto High School.

n Jeremiah Bundrage, curriculum math leader from the Atlanta area.

n Valerie Jones, assistant principal at Braden River High School.

n David Marshall, assistant principal at Lakewood Ranch High School.

n Eric Palmu, a retired superintendent from Kalamazoo, Mich.

Superintendent Tim McGonegal will make the final choice. The school board is expected to confirm his choice July 13 or 27.

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