Rochelle Township High School principal Jason Harper will be taking on the role of superintendent following approval at Monday night’s board of education meeting.
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ROCHELLE — Rochelle Township High School principal Jason Harper will be taking on the role of superintendent following approval at Monday night’s board of education meeting.
Harper will be taking the position following the resignation of Jamie Craven who has accepted the superintendent position at the DeKalb school district.
“Rochelle has been good to my family and me, but now is right for a professional change,” Craven said. “I am thankful for my time and experiences at RTHS and wish the district the best of luck going forward.”
“The board is very pleased to announce that principal Jason Harper will step into the position of superintendent,” board president Tom Huddleston said Monday night. “A Rochelle native and product of [RTHS] district 212, Jason is an educator and proven administrator who brings a unique perspective to the position.”
Harper’s appointment to the position was approved during the regular session of the monthly board meeting. The board did meet in special session last week; however, no action or discussion was taken at that time. Board members discussed personnel at that special executive session meeting.
“I look forward to continuing Rochelle’s long tradition of providing excellent educational opportunities and leadership,” Harper said. “The bar has been set high.”
Harper added he is happy to be serving in his hometown.
“Being able to serve Rochelle families is very important to me. We want the high school to have a positive impact on student growth; the kind of impact I certainly enjoyed in my experiences here.”
Harper joined the RTHS staff in 2011 as a special education teacher, coming from Harlem School District 122 in Machesney Park. He was appointed RTHS principal in 2013.
Following an approximate 30-minute executive session Monday, board members approved administrative staff changes, all effective July 1.
Current assistant principal Chris Lewis was appointed to RTHS principal.
Lewis, a former social studies teacher, PE teacher and coach joined the RTHS staff in 2001 and the administrative team in 2013.
“I relocated here from Ohio. Rochelle is our boys’ hometown and the high school they will attend is important to me,” Lewis said. “Jason and I both have a stake in that. I look forward to working alongside him.”
With his new position, Lewis will no longer be coaching at RTHS.
Huddleston also announced the appointment of former English teacher and English department chair, Dr. David Perrin, as the assistant principal. Perrin has been teaching English at RTHS since 1994.
“Our administrative team will continue to provide RTHS students with a wide variety of experience so that they leave here excited about and prepared for life after high school,” Harper said. “I look forward to a smooth transition.”
