Amy Bringedahl, principal of Northfield High School since 2016, will leave the position after the 2023-24 school year. Bringedahl announced her decision in a letter to the school community on Tuesday. (Letter below)
Northfield is a member of the Northeast Denver Innovation Zone whose executive director will work with the NHS Collaborative School Committee (CSC) to recruit a new principal. A finalist is expected by mid-February.
Dear Northfield Community –
It was nearly seven years ago that I began my tenure as the principal of Northfield High School. At that time, there were approximately 200 freshmen, and the school was struggling, following the resignation of its founding principal. When I took this position in 2016, I could feel the passion and determination of the teachers, students and community to make Northfield one of the premier high schools in the state. It was an exciting opportunity that required hard work with deep dedication to a clear community vision.
In the succeeding years, I have collaborated with a tremendous team of teachers, leaders and staff to establish new systems and guide the enormous growth and progress of Northfield. Together, we have gained IB accreditation for Northfield, overseen the build-out of our campus, grown from a handful of sports programs to 24 CHSAA certified sports, established a multi-faceted visual and performing arts program, exceeded academic benchmarks, and increased our diverse student population to nearly 1900 this year.
While the work at Northfield is not done – and indeed, never will be, as the spirit of growth and improvement is central to Northfield’s identity – the time has come for me to make way for new leadership. I have informed the Northeast Denver Innovation Zone board and its executive director, Colleen O’Brien, that next year will be my last as the principal of Northfield High School.
The process to select a new principal for the school will begin tomorrow, as we open the search for the best candidate to consolidate and build upon our many strengths.
Dr. O’Brien, along with our Collaborative School Committee (CSC), will create a process and timeline for the hire with a finalist by mid-February. The transition will be modeled as an apprenticeship, and I will mentor the incoming principal through the 23-24 school year so that the process is as smooth as possible.
Leading Northfield has been the greatest honor of my career. While it will be hard to say goodbye, I am confident that the extraordinary Nighthawk community of teachers, staff, students and families will ensure that our spirit, values and commitment to equity and excellence continue under the next leader.
You can expect further communications from Northfield in the next month as we seek community guidance in this process. Thank you in advance for your support and input, and, as always, please reach out to me directly with any questions.
Sincerely,
Amy Bringedahl
Principal, Northfield High School
