Long Beach Community Reacts to Lipke's Departure

The community reacted with mixed emotions Wednesday to the news that beloved principal Kevin Lipke would be moving on to another school district.

Parents and co-workers were happy for Lipke, who accepted a job this week as superintendent in the Pontiac School District, about 75 miles south of Boulder Hill. His last day will be June 30.

But they were also saddened to learn that Long Beach would soon be without a respected and admired leader who, in his five years there, brought the community together and did all he could to make them proud of their school.

Lipke said the decision was a difficult one, and it took him a while to decide whether he would take the job. But to move forward in his career, he said, he felt he had to look outside the Oswego School District. Pontiac—a district of roughly 1,400 students—was actually the first place he sent his resume to, he said.

The hardest part, he said, was deciding to leave the Long Beach community.

“I love Long Beach,” he said. “I spent five wonderful years at such a great place, and I owe so much to the kids, families and teachers here.”

Lipke took the job as Long Beach principal in 2007. He said he is most proud of the way he and his staff were able to “bring our school back to belonging to the community.”

“In the beginning, it wasn’t like that,” he said. “It was separate from the community, a school adults’ kids went to. Five years later, adults say they’re proud their kids go to Long Beach.”

He specifically mentioned the regular , in which students are given awards for being good citizens, and the increase in test scores over his tenure as points of pride for him. He hopes his love for the school and the community came through during his time as principal.

“Everything I did was straight from the heart,” he said.

News of Lipke’s departure was met with sadness on Wednesday. Parents reported plenty of sad children at Long Beach, and Lipke took time to speak to several of them. Parents were equally distressed, and many said they don’t see how Lipke will be replaced.

Robyn Vickers, president of Long Beach’s Home and School organization, had nothing but praise for Lipke. Over five years, she said, Lipke never missed an event, and did everything parents asked of him. He often provided the incentive for fundraisers and student reading goals, and ended up duct-taped to a wall, or kissing a pig.

More than that, she said, he made every student at Long Beach feel special. He knows the names of all 587 students and their families, she said, and he takes the time to talk to them in the hallways, or ask them what they’re interested in. And he worked with parents, most recently on the boundary committee, assuring them that their children's education is most important.

Vickers noted efforts like the Long Beach staff arranged for the family of Kylie Arnold, a Montgomery 4-year-old who died in February of brain cancer. She said these efforts flow from Lipke’s example.

“It comes from him,” she said. “He does it, and everyone lives up to that example.”

Sean Daleiden, a teacher, called Lipke an asset to the school and the district, and a good friend. When Daleiden went back to school to get his Type 75 certification, he said, Lipke became his mentor.

“He truly is a great leader and person,” he said. “We will miss him in our community.”

I am so thankful that he takes the time with the students that he does,” said parent Kristen Gerwig. “Most teachers and administrators simply don't take the time to get to know any of the students. Mr. Lipke will be very hard to replace.”

Jillian Trimarco, a former District 308 teacher and mother of four kids (two of whom attend Long Beach), called Lipke the best principal in the district. She said Lipke took time to bring her oldest, now in 4th grade, out of his shell, and mentioned his extra efforts, like arranging regular visits to students’ homes to read to them.

“I think all that effort is going to be greatly missed,” she said. “He will be replaced, but he’s irreplaceable.”