New Kerkstra Principal Nendza Comes 'Home' To District 142

OAK FOREST, IL — Steve Nendza is no stranger to taking on big challenges. The educator and longtime Oak Forest resident made a name for himself in District 142 a dozen years ago, when he raised the baton before a Hille Middle School band program of 60, and magically grew it to double that size.

Nendza's guidance transformed the program from floundering to flourishing—a feat many still remember of his 10 years at the school. He then went on to Lemont's Old Quarry Middle School, where he served as assistant principal and athletic director.

But whoever said you can't go home again must not have known Nendza, who has found his way back to District 142, and will take up the reins as principal of Kerkstra Elementary School.

"... It was a perfect fit," Nendza said, of his desire to take his seat in the principal's office. Oak Forest has always held a special place in his heart, he said.

"One of the biggest things that I loved when I was at Hille, and that I know is still true here, it's a town of hardworking people," Nendza said. "People who value education, people who work hard for what they have. And that rubs off on their kids. Our community has kids who will work hard, and keep grinding, and have grit and just don't give up. That's just the truly special part about our town."

Former band student Cole Silha, now 22, remembers how Nendza inspired him.

"I feel like Steve really brings things beyond education," Silha said. "... he was really one of those guys who was nice to look up to. He showed me the ropes of what it was to be growing up. He was someone I looked up to a lot. He played a large part in maturing for me. He could snap me back into line, he had that ability.”

Nendza's leadership taught Silha to appreciate music beyond just the sounds.

"It made me fall in love with music, really," Silha said. "It took my understanding of music to a higher knowledge. He led me to believe there’s more to music than what you hear, there’s a lot of feeling behind it, too.”

The experience and lessons Nendza gleaned at Hille carried over to Lemont's Old Quarry Middle School, where he stepped into a more administrative role.

"I think the biggest thing was just the relationships," Nendza said. "And getting to know kids, getting to know parents, and being able to have those honest conversations with people and know that we're there to do best for kids. Whether it was in the band, or now it's in the admin role, it's how do we support kids and how do we support families."

With the increased responsibility, comes more accountability, Nendza noted.

"I think everything rolls on to my shoulders. I become the face of the school," he said. "It comes to me, I've got to be the one making the decisions, but also working with my team and using my resources."

Nendza prides himself on a three-pronged style of leadership. First, working side-by-side with his team, students, and families.

"We're going to work together to figure this out, whatever it's going to take to get a kid to move forward."

Next, he's out in front, championing ideas—not only his own, but others'.

And he's going to celebrate successes along the way.

"I'm going to be your cheerleader," he said. "Be the face of the school. Be all about Kerkstra."

Along with the nerves of taking on a bigger role, Nendza sees the task in front of him as daunting: "getting us back to 'normal.'

"For the past three years, we've dealt with not knowing what's going to happen," Nendza said, speaking on the pandemic. "I'm hoping this year we can just do school normally, and make it a place kids love coming to, and staff loves coming to.

"I'm super excited to be back in town, and be part of our community that way, not just as a person who lives in town, but as a person who's embedded with our schools again."

Silha said there's no better person for the role, and no more perfect a place Nendza could have landed.

"It’s going to be awesome, there are going to be a lot of kids who are going to be very thankful for him," he said. "He’s going to take it to a higher level than just being the principal, they’ll look at him as a friend, and they’ll remember that.”