Members of the Palo Alto High School Principal Selection Input Committee explained Phil Winston’s selection as the new Paly principal on Friday, in a series of interviews with The Paly Voice.

Last Thursday, Supt. Kevin Skelly announced that Winston would replace current principal Jacqueline McEvoy. Winston was the assistant principal at Gunn before his appointment at Paly. The PSIC recommended Winston to Skelly.

The PSIC lauded Winston for his energy, approachability and skill at fostering a sense of community, according to Paly parent Karen Ersted, who represents the Parent Teacher Student Association on the PSIC.

Winston worked closely with students during the traumatic months following the Gunn suicides, Ersted said, adding that this personal interaction and involvement in student activities made him a more compelling choice for principal.

“He has been very involved with the social and emotional issues that have occurred recently at Gunn, so he’s had a lot of personal interaction with students,” Ersted said. “He was one of our top two candidates and was highly rated by the committee, but the ultimate decision was Dr. Skelly’s.”

Ersted hopes that these qualities will make Winston’s transition to Paly a smooth one.

“I’m very hopeful that he will start off and really get to know the students and the entire community,” she said.

Ersted believes Winston will get to know Paly well enough to make the most suitable changes.

“I also got the impression from him that he really wants to learn about us,” Ersted said. “Not just come in and start making changes, but learn about us. Even though he’s very familiar with the district, he recognizes that Paly is a different campus than Gunn.”

Paly parent Lorraine Brown, the Site Council Representative to the PSIC, cited additional reasons for Winston’s selection, emphasizing his collaborative skills and excellent reputation at Gunn.

“After interviewing Phil Winston, our principal selection committee felt he would be a collaborative decision maker and good listener, a positive community builder and a strong academic leader,” Brown said. “He comes from Gunn with an excellent reputation and the highest of recommendations from [Gunn High School] Principal [Noreen] Likins.”

Uma Veerappan, the Paly Associated Student Body representative to the PSIC, summed up Winston’s strengths from a student perspective.

“I’m really excited to have Mr. Winston as our principal next year,” Veerappan said. “He’s smart, nice, funny and, most importantly, approachable.”