New principal for Hampshire Middle School

Community Unit District 300 has poached an administrator from a neighboring school district to lead Hampshire Middle School.

Kurt Rohlwing, currently assistant principal at Marlowe Middle School in Huntley Unit District 158, has been named as successor to Jim Wallis. Wallis will retire from Hampshire Middle School after spending 19 years with the district.

“It is extremely exciting and a goal I have had for a long time,” Rohlwing said. “I am honored to get a position in ... a fantastic community and follow a well thought-of and well respected principal in Jim Wallis.

Rohlwing, 33, started his teaching career at Wauconda High School. For the past four years he has served as assistant principal, as well as athletic and activity coordinator at Marlowe Middle School in Lake in the Hills. Prior to that, Rohlwing taught history and coached wrestling at Huntley High School from 2005 to 2008.

In a news release, District 300 officials highlighted Rohlwing’s work in the areas of special education, curriculum development, staff evaluations, and after-school remediation programs for all students.

Kara Vicente, District 300 assistant superintendent for middle school teaching and learning, said Rohlwing showed equal passion for the community and the education of students.

“Kurt clearly demonstrated throughout the interview process an understanding of quality instruction and the importance of college and career readiness at the middle school level,” she said in a news release.

Wallis, who plans to spend his retirement sailing, began his career in District 300 in 1993 as the assistant principal and athletic director at Hampshire High School. He moved to principal of Hampshire Middle School in 2005 when the school was still a combined middle and high school. Wallis said it was as tough decision to stay at the middle school when the campus split up in 2008. But in that time, Wallis said, he fell in love with the middle school age group.

“There’s just so much energy and you can really shape how they act toward each other and how they are going to be,” Wallis said. “At the high school level, you feel like you are able to shape them, but you don’t see the changes so quickly.”