New principals named for Conant, Fremd
New principals were named for Conant High School in Hoffman Estates and Fremd High School in Palatine at Thursday night’s Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board meeting.
The appointment of Julie Nowak at Conant and of Kurtis Tenopir at Fremd will be effective July 1.
Nowak, currently District 211 director of special education, will take over from Tim Cannon, who will retire after serving District 211 for 32 years, including the past nine as principal at Conant. Tenopir, currently an assistant principal at Fremd, assumes the principalship from Lisa Small, who was recently named District 211 associate superintendent for instruction.
Nowak has been director of special education since 2008, after serving as the assistant director for a year. Prior to that, she was the special education department chair at Palatine High School from 2001-2007 and special education teacher at Hoffman Estates High School from 1994-2001. She also worked for a year as a special-education teacher at Jacobs High School in Algonquin. In 2001, Nowak received a Those Who Excel award from the Illinois State Board of Education.
“Tim Cannon has been a key part of our administrative leadership, not just at Conant High School, but throughout District 211, and with his retirement, Julie Nowak will continue the instructional leadership that Mr. Cannon has provided to the Conant community,” Superintendent-elect Dan Cates said in the news release.
“I am excited about Mrs. Nowak taking over the principalship at Conant High School. Her commitment to students, along with her instructional experience and leadership, make for a powerful combination. Everyone who has met or is associated with Julie knows what a hardworking, quality, and caring person she is. I am very confident that in her new role she will continue to make great contributions, impacting a great number of students, families, and staff.”
Tenopir joined District 211 as a 12-month assistant principal at Fremd in 2011. He gained administrative experience as an assistant principal for instruction at Deerfield High School from 2008-2011 and as an assistant principal at Belvidere High School from 2005-2008. He began his teaching career at Grand Island High School in Grand Island, Neb., in 1998 before moving to Belvidere, where he served as an English teacher from 2001-2005.
“Dr. Small has done a terrific job leading Fremd High School and developing leaders who will continue the school’s excellence,” Cates said. “Kurt Tenopir is a perfect fit for the principal position. Having led initiatives at Fremd High School for the past several years, he is familiar with the school community, and in his new role he’ll have the opportunity to expand his instructional strengths and insights. He knows and relates well with students, parents, and staff. People throughout the Fremd community appreciate Kurt’s positive attitude, excellent work ethic, and enthusiasm for the students of Fremd High School.”