The outgoing principal of Niles North High School on Thursday said that as he reflects back on his time at the school he is most proud of that fact that the high school has a strong sense of community and is excelling academically.
Niles North High School’s principal, Ryan McTague sent an email to teachers, students and parents on Wednesday announcing that he is leaving the school at the end of the school year to become the superintendent of McHenry School District 156.
“While I’m excited to begin my new role as a superintendent, it will be difficult leaving behind my incredible Niles North family,” the email said. “I am deeply grateful and appreciative to the students, parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, and community members for their unwavering support and friendship. No matter where my journey in life takes me, you will always have a special place in my heart.”
McTague joined Niles Township High School District 219 in 2003 as a dean of students, became director of deans in 2005 and then was appointed assistant principal of operations in 2007. He was appointed Niles North principal in 2010.
In an interview on Thursday, McTague said he is proud of many things the school achieved when he was principal, but said he is most proud of the fact that school has a real sense of community.
“That is what I will take with me,” he said.
“I’ve always told the kids, I’ve always hammered it home, we are one,” he added. “We are one school. We are one community. It really inspires the values of what every diverse community needs to have.”
He also said he is very pleased that the Niles North and the school district are excelling academically.
“Our (advanced placement) enrollment has increased fifty percent in the last three years,” he said. “We’ve just really done well. For me leaving with that idea that our community is ‘strong’ is something very special.”
“There’s so many things we have done that have really put us on a course to where our kids really have every option and opportunity when they graduate,” he added. “It really has been an incredible experience for me. I’m so proud of our accomplishments. I’m so proud of our kids and our staff members and really how far we’ve come.”
He also said he hopes to take much of what he learned as principal of Niles North to his new job in McHenry School District 156.
“What I’m bring to McHenry is a wealth of experience of really working in a highly competitive and resourceful accomplished high school district, as well as someone who really wants to build a collaborative community, someone who really wants to listen to our parents and our students and our teachers,” he said.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
