Libertyville High School Hires New Principal

LIBERTYVILLE, IL - Libertyville High School has hired a new principal.

At its Feb. 27 regular meeting, the Community High School District 128 Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of Thomas Koulentes as the next principal of Libertyville High School. Koulentes will begin his new position July 1, 2017, following the retirement of LHS Principal Marina Scott, according to a news release.

Koulentes has served as principal of Highland Park High School since July 2015. Prior to that, he was the school’s interim principal for the 2014-15 school year and was assistant principal for nine years prior to that. Koulentes began his teaching career at Highland Park as a social studies and English Language Learners (ELL) teacher in 1995, and subsequently served as director of the district’s bilingual program, according to high school officials.

Koulentes received the National Society of Secondary Scholars Distinguished Teaching Award in 2008, and the Microsoft Award for Most Innovative Teaching in the United States in 2007. Additionally, he was a 2005 finalist for the Golden Apple for Teaching Excellence award.

Koulentes holds a Doctorate Degree in Education, Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership and Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“We are ecstatic to have Tom join the D128 family as the LHS principal,” said District 128 Superintendent Prentiss Lea. “Tom is regarded as an educator’s educator, best of the best principal, and is universally lauded for his commitment to teacher development, school improvement, and continual student growth and increased student achievement. He will certainly build upon the excellence that Dr. Scott and her team have achieved.”

District 128 Board President Pat Groody added, “On behalf of the D128 Board, we are very excited to have someone of Dr. Koulentes’ caliber and experience join our team. His demonstrated commitment to students, staff and community is a great fit for LHS, and LHS is a great fit for him. We know he will lead LHS to new heights in coming years.”

Photo via District 128