Principals, Laurie Elish-Piper said, are the hearts of their schools. Their confidence in the ideas and abilities of teachers empowers those teachers to do their best work, she said. Their leadership in our schools forges the backbone of a democratic society, preparing
Read moreMarguerite Key Fellows program marks two years of ideas, growing momentum
Kiwana Sanders grew up imagining the golden possibilities that she felt sure were waiting in the world outside her ZIP code. “I was one who was without,” says Sanders, principal of Nathan Hale Middle School in Cook County School District 130 of
Read moreMarguerite Key Fellows names first class of school principals
Six principals from NIU’s service region were named as the inaugural Marguerite Key Fellows, a new initiative of the NIU College of Education. Rachel Bednar, principal, Edison Middle School, Wheaton Jay Brickman, principal, Hinckley-Big Rock High School, Hinckley Patrick Hardy, principal, Proviso
Read moreChris Tennyson
Chris Tennyson, principal, Fulton High School, Fulton Nominated by Jon Marshall, VP of Academics and Student Services at Sauk Valley Community College, and River Bend School District Superintendent Darryl Hogue, Tennyson is tirelessly engaged in a partnership between the college and the
Read moreKatie Matthews
Katie Matthews, principal, Grove Avenue Elementary School, Barrington Nominated by senior leadership of Barrington Community Unit School District 220, Matthews is known as a passionate advocate for all students “through her commitment to connecting with children and families” and ensuring that “all
Read moreDebra Klein
Debra Klein, principal, Emerson Elementary School, Wheaton Nominated by Wheaton-Warrenville Community Unit School District 200 Superintendent Jeff Schuler, Klein is known among her colleagues as a strong advocate for improving student learning. Demographics at Emerson Elementary School continue to change: students speak
Read morePatrick Hardy
Patrick Hardy, principal, Proviso East High School, Maywood Nominated by NIU Vice Provost Anne Birberick and Marilyn Bellert, director of the Northern Illinois Regional P-20 Network, Hardy was hired at Proviso East in 2015 as a “turnaround principal” to counter “decades of
Read moreJay Brickman
Jay Brickman, principal, Hinckley-Big Rock High School, Hinckley Nominated by Hinckley-Big Rock Community Unit School District 429 Superintendent Travis L. McGuire, Brickman has proven influential in advancing the goal that all HBRHS graduates are career-ready. He and his colleagues from across the
Read moreRachel Bednar
Rachel Bednar, principal, Edison Middle School, Wheaton Nominated by Wheaton-Warrenville Community Unit School District 200 Superintendent Jeff Schuler, Rachel Bednar is recognized for placing a high value on health education that has yielded a 92 percent attendance rate at Edison. She and
Read moreUnlocking potential: LEPF will honor donor Marguerite F. Key with launch of fellows program
When Alan Clemens attended a recent annual conference of the National College Access Network, which works to open the doors of higher education to underserved populations of students, he noticed something missing. Representatives from colleges and universities were few. “Higher education was
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