New head of school takes reins at Avery Coonley School

DOWNERS GROVE – One of the first orders of business Paul Druzinsky attended to when he took over as head of school for Avery Coonley School, an independent school for academically gifted children in Downers Grove, was to place a chess board in his office.

It was important for him to connect with the students, but it also was a new experience for the Hinsdale resident.

"I never had a chess set in my office before, but I was I told that a kindergartner would come in here and beat me in chess," Druzinsky said.

The chess board is more symbolic of the student body he oversees, he added.

While Druzinsky, 56, has more than three decades of experience in private and independent schools, Avery Coonley is his first academically gifted setting to oversee.

"I have strong belief and love of public schools, and my three boys have gone to public schools," Druzinsky said. "What I really love about an independent school is that it is a little less bureaucracy, and has the ability to have smaller classrooms and personal attention to children."

Druzinsky grew up in Chicago. He received his undergraduate degree from Claremont McKenna College and his master’s degree in education from Harvard. Druzinsky began his career as a drama teacher and department chair at Francis Parker School in Chicago, his alma mater.

Druzinsky doesn't focus on the gifted aspect of the school as much as an encompassing and holistic view of the school.

"It is important schools remain student-focused and that is one of the things I like about Avery Coonley is that it is a child-centered place," Druzinsky said.

---

More online

For more information go to www.averycoonley.org.