By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
Niles Brandywine's middle school assistant principal, Lin Mallory, won out over 20 other applicants to become Patrick Hamilton Middle School principal.
Mallory, of Granger, Ind., has 25 years experience at Brandywine and teaching special education at Berrien Springs Public Schools. She has been an adjunct facultymember at St. Mary's College in South Bend, Ind., since 2000.
Mallory will be filling a vacancy created by the promotion of 19-year principal Peg Stowers to assistant superintendent.
Superintendent Larry Crandall said a panel interviewed six candidates initially, then brought Mallory back for a second interview.
Mallory went to high school in Plymouth and college at Western Michigan University. She and her husband, Tom, a Niles Senior High School graduate, have three grown children.
Detailing the process which concluded with her appointment Monday night by the Dowagiac Board of Education meeting at Patrick Hamilton, Crandall said in addition to questioning candidates, they are asked to respond to questions in writing, including some in five minutes.
Despite her title as "assistant" principal, Mallory effectively runs the grades 7-8 building.
The principal charged with grades 7-12 focuses primarily on the high school. Mallory is also the district's special education coordinator.