OPRFHS recommends new Principal to Board of Education
Updated April 24, 2008 - The Board welcomed Mr. Rouse and his wife, Effie Rouse (a teacher in Elgin District U-46), at the meeting, where Mr. Rouse expressed his excitement about his new role and the opportunity "to help make a great school even greater and to work on behalf of all students to ensure they are getting whatever help they need to become successful in school and in life." The District will host a reception for the new principal in the coming weeks, and provide an opportunity for OPRFHS students to meet him prior to the end of the school year, said OPRFHS Superintendent Dr. Attila J. Weninger: "We are so pleased that Nate has brought his energy, leadership and talent to our district and building, and look forward to welcoming him to our school and community."
Mr. Rouse comes to OPRFHS from Highland Park High School where he has worked as the Assistant Principal since July 2004. In that role he has been responsible for extensive school operational and climate issues, as well as having supervision of academic department heads. Prior to Highland Park, Mr. Rouse was Dean of Students at Elgin High School. A former English teacher at West Leyden High School, he continues to teach English as a Second Language at Elgin Community College. He is described by colleagues as a student-centered, smart, savvy and compassionate educational leader and coalition builder who makes a priority of reaching out to all school constituencies.
Mr. Rouse has a BA in English from Northern Illinois University and an MAT degree in Language Arts and a Type 75 educational leadership certificate, both from Northeastern Illinois University. He expects to complete his doctorate in educational leadership at Aurora University in Spring 2009.
Prior to initiating its search for a new superintendent to replace Dr. Susan Bridge upon her retirement in June 2007, the Board of Education explored District and building leadership structure and future needs and decided to reinstitute the separate positions of Superintendent and Principal. Long-time OPRFHS educator Don Vogel has served as interim principal for the 2007-08 year, the first time the role had been reinstated since Dr. Robert Botthoff served as Principal under Superintendent Dr. Jack Swanson until 1983. During the intervening years, the roles of Superintendent and Principal were combined.
Nathaniel Rouse, Assistant Principal at Highland Park High School, will be recommended to the Board of Education as Principal of Oak Park and River Forest High School. The District will welcome Mr. Rouse and his wife, Ellie Rouse (a teacher in Elgin District U-46), at the Board's regular April 24 meeting. Pending Board approval of the recommendation, the District also will plan to host a reception for the new principal in the coming weeks, and provide an opportunity for our students to meet him prior to the end of the school year.
Mr. Rouse has worked as the Assistant Principal at Highland Park High School since July 2004, having supervision of academic department heads among numerous other duties. Prior to Highland Park, Mr. Rouse was Dean of Students at Elgin High School. A former English teacher at West Leyden High School, he continues to teach English as a Second Language at Elgin Community College.
Site visits planned for two finalists for OPRFHS Principal position
Updated April 14, 2008 - The District Leadership Team has debriefed the four finalists' materials, interviews, forums, references, and other input from a variety of stakeholders and narrowed the field to two candidates: Nathaniel L. Rouse from Highland Park High School and Elizabeth Bender from University City High School (St. Louis). The District will conduct a site interview for each of the two remaining finalists and will be complete those visits and reach a recommendation in time for the regular Board of Education meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thurs. April 24. OPRFHS Superintendent Dr. Attila J. Weninger, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Jason Edgecombe and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Phil Prale will make those visits this week and Monday of next week.
Dr. Weninger affirmed the strong professional backgrounds and expertise of all the candidate finalists and expressed his appreciation for the participation and candidacy of Don Vogel, interim OPRFHS principal, and Betheny Lyke from Thornton Township High School.
More than 30 applications were received for the Principal position, with finalists selected after interviews with 11 potential candidates by a committee with administrative, faculty, parent, community, and student representation.
Dr. Bender has served as the Principal of University City High School in University City, MO since July 1998. In her capacity as principal of this grade 9-12 high school of 1,100 students, she has had extensive experience in addressing access and achievement gap issues. She has a BA from Wheeling College, a masters degree in secondary education from Lehigh University and a Ph.D. in education administration from St. Louis University.
Mr. Rouse has worked as the Assistant Principal at Highland Park High School since July 2004, having supervision of academic department heads among numerous other duties. Prior to Highland Park, Mr. Rouse was Dean of Students at Elgin High School. A former English teacher at West Leyden High School, he continues to teach English as a Second Language at Elgin Community College.
Mr. Rouse has a BA in English from Northern Illinois University and an MAT degree in Language Arts and a Type 75 educational leadership certificate, both from Northeastern Illinois University. He expects to complete his doctorate in educational leadership at Aurora University in Spring 2009.