Dear Heineman families,
We are excited to introduce Mrs. Stephanie Mitchell as the new principal of Heineman Middle School, effective for the 2022-23 school year. After a thorough search process which yielded several strong, qualified candidates, we are excited to announce that Mrs. Mitchell will be joining the HMS and Huntley 158 community.
The District recommended Mrs. Mitchell to the Board of Education, and her hiring is set to be approved at tonight’s Board of Education meeting.
Mrs. Mitchell comes to our district with a wide range of experience in the classroom and in leadership positions during her career in education. Most recently, she has spent two years as the principal of John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake Area School District 116. In this position she facilitated student growth in math and reading, developed a hybrid learning model during the 2020-21 school year, and also engaged the school community in a principal round table and bi-monthly parent forums to give all stakeholders the opportunity to discuss and improve school climate.
While her experience as a principal has prepared her for this role, she has a rich educational background as an administrator and classroom teacher. She previously spent three years as the Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at John T. Magee Middle School before her promotion to principal. This role gave her experience implementing and overseeing curriculum, providing meaningful professional learning opportunities for her staff, and monitoring student success. She also has over 10 years of classroom experience and has worked directly with students as an elementary and middle school teacher in Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 and as a math interventionist in Community Unit School District 50.
During the interview process, Mrs. Mitchell displayed both her unique talent for leadership and her passion for students. We are confident that she will continue the existing culture of excellence at Heineman Middle School while elevating our students’ educational experience. We are also immensely thankful to the search committee and to all members of the staff who have worked to support this search process.
Mrs. Mitchell and current principal Mr. Brian Faulkner will collaborate over the remainder of the school year to ensure a smooth and positive transition when we welcome our students for the start of the 2022-23 school year.
Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Mitchell to the Huntley 158 family!
Sincerely,
Scott Rowe, Ed.D.
Superintendent
