New Westlake Assistant High School Principal Named

David J. Schindler, a building coordinator with Positive Education Program (PEP) Ireland and Avon Lake resident, has been named the new Westlake High School assistant principal.

Schindler was chosen out of approximately 90 applicants. 

At PEP, a specialized school  in Cleveland for students with special needs, Schindler was a peer coach, providing internal professional development training for the agency. He helped to establish and run a program for community-based service learning projects for students and was the point liaison for the agency with resource groups in the Central neighborhood of Cleveland.

He is also an adjunct faculty member at Cleveland State University (CSU) in the Teacher Education/Special Education Department, and was part of the PEP Curriculum and Program Development Team and a Therapy Crisis Intervention agency trainer.

“We have been fortunate to have had a number of outstanding assistant principals at WHS, and we are looking forward to having Dave add to that tradition,” Superintendent Dr. Daniel J. Keenan  said “He comes with an exceptional instructional background, and having served successfully as a building coordinator he brings with him strong leadership skills.

“We are very excited about his continuous improvement mindset and how he fits to ensure we succeed in fulfilling our mission to educate for excellence.”

Prior to serving as coordinator for two year at PEP, Schindler was an assistant to the coordinator and a teacher-counselor. He also was an instructor in Conflict Resolution Education Training for Educators at Temple University and CSU.

Schindler said he was drawn to the tradition and respect of Westlake as a premier school district.

“This is an excellent opportunity for me to contribute to a great district,” he said.

Schindler earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the Ohio State University, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction moderate-intensive needs from CSU, and his educational administration license from Ursuline College. He is a National Board Certified teacher, as well as an Ohio Teacher Evaluation System and Ohio Principal Evaluation System credentialed evaluator.

Schindler lives in Avon Lake with his wife, Beth, and their children Anna, 12, Jack, 10, and Danielle, 3. He replaces Vishtasp Nuggud, who recently accepted a position as principal of Learwood Middle School in Avon Lake.