The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) School Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Pavielle Driver as Principal. Ms. Driver is currently serving as Resident Principal at Chicago Public School’s Air Force Academy High School, and will begin at ChiArts on June 1, 2023. We thank Ms. Cruz for her contributions as Interim Head of School & Principal during the past two school years, and wish her the best in future endeavors. As May 19 is Ms. Cruz’s last day, ChiArts Assistant Principal Dr. McLeary will assume administrative responsibilities for ChiArts until the arrival of Ms. Driver.
When asked about her excitement for ChiArts, Ms. Driver shared, “I am a proud native of Racine, Wisconsin currently residing in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. I am blessed to be the Mother of two wonderful boys, Damien and Gunnar and the proud chosen Godmother of Laila Sheree and Carter Clay. As a young girl I found a love for music, dance, and singing that continues to be a light for me daily. Unfortunately, I had no access to an arts conservatory but fortunately enough I was able to engage in the arts through community partnerships. As an educator, I’ve always been passionate about the quality and equity of education provided to all students. Because of this, ChiArts sparked my interest as it is a unique place that would allow me to increase student achievement and foster students’ love for the arts through academics and arts integration.”
Ms. Driver has earned two Master’s degrees: one in Administrative Leadership from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Master’s in Special Education from University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and is a proud New Leaders Aspiring Principals Program Fellow.
Thank you to the ChiArts School Board Principal Search Committee, led by school board members Janette Cortes-Duewel and Bill Gerstein, along with current ChiArts educators, scholar-artists, and parent committee members. We warmly welcome Ms. Driver to the ChiArts community!