Waukegan High School’s lead Co-Principal Daniel Hill began thinking about eventually becoming a district-wide administrator, or even a superintendent, earlier this school year.
For the past 24 years — his entire academic career — Hill has been a math teacher, a dean, an assistant principal and principal at Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 schools. He decided now was the time to broaden his horizons.
Hill was chosen out of 24 applicants as the new principal of Maine West High School in Des Plaines on Feb. 2 by the Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education, giving him the opportunity to learn how a different district operates.
With his youngest son graduating from Waukegan High School in May, Hill said the time is right to explore other opportunities outside of District 60. His local tenure ends June 30. He will start at Maine West on July 1, according to a press release from District 207.
“As I thought about the future of my career, possibly being a central district (administrator) or a superintendent, I need new experiences,” Hill said Monday. “Not every district does things the way Waukegan does. This will expand my experiences.”
District 207 Superintendent Tatiana Bonuma said in a news release that everything she, her cabinet and the Board of Education learned from an extensive interview process was “overwhelmingly positive.”
“Daniel (Hill) is an educator who is a learner, leader and coach,” Bonuma said. “He is eager to immerse himself in the traditions at Maine West and focus on academic excellence and a sense of belonging for every student.”
District 60 Superintendent Theresa Plascencia expressed several of the same feelings articulated by Bonuma in an email on Monday, praising Hill’s talents as a leader and his connection to the students under his charge.
“Dan’s leadership, care for students and staff, and his strong connection to the Waukegan community have made a meaningful difference in the lives of so many,” Plascencia said. “While we will miss him in Waukegan Public Schools, we are grateful for his service and wish him continued success in his next chapter.”
Currently earning approximately $156,000 annually, Hill’s salary will climb 25% to $208,000. He said he knew about the difference in compensation, but professional growth, not remuneration, was his main focus.
“I was aware of the difference in pay for high school principals, but that was not the driving force; it was the opportunity for professional growth,” Hill said. “I want to expand my base of knowledge.”
Reflecting on his District 60 career, Hill said he is glad he had the opportunity to work at the elementary, middle and high school levels. He started as a math teacher at Jack Benny Middle School, was a middle school assistant principal, as well as a principal at the elementary and high school level.
“I increased student outcomes everywhere,” Hill said. “It helped me to develop my leadership by being at all levels.”
Between Hill’s initial virtual interview at Maine West and his final meeting with Bonuma and her cabinet, he said there were extensive interviews with all parts of the school community, including students, teachers and administrators. He toured the building with board member Dana Jaime.
In between the initial and final interviews, Hill had two more. He spent nearly a day touring the Maine West campus, meeting with 14 teachers and staff, 11 school administrators as well as 18 students and parents and students, according to the release.
Current Maine West Principal Eileen McMahon was promoted to a district-wide position — director of educator performance and development, according to the release.
Hill, who was born and raised in Chicago, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in Morris majoring in math, as well as master’s degrees in educational leadership from St. Xavier University and in educational administration from American College of Education.
