Naperville N. principal leaving with memories - and an award - in hand

When Ross Truemper took the reins at Naperville North High School, one of his priorities was providing stability for a school that had gone through several principals in a short span.

Now he is not only completing his eighth year at the helm, but will retire this summer with an Illinois High School Principal of the Year Award in hand.

The Illinois Principals Association recently announced Truemper's selection as its top principal, an honor sparked by a nomination from a student.

"I'm so excited for Ross and it's something he so richly deserves," Superintendent Alan Leis said. "You rarely meet principals that work as hard as he does to make sure he is in touch with everything happening at the school. He provides strong leadership to the school and students and to parents and support staff and has done an outstanding job at that school."

The association chose Truemper from among 21 regional finalists who were judged based on their applications and letters of recommendation.

Truemper's nomination came from senior Akansha Tarun, who said she wanted to honor her principal for what he has accomplished at the school and the impact he has had on students.

Over the years, she has spent plenty of time chatting with the principal, whether asking permission for a club activity or just talking about classes, hobbies and future goals.

"He leaves, metaphorically, his door open so all students have access to him," Tarun said. "It's just how much you want to get to know him, but he's very willing to get to know the students here."

Tarun said she is also impressed by the projects he has spearheaded at North, including developing an alternative learning program for struggling students, redesigning teams in the Pupil Personnel Services Department, making North a model for high school students to take College of DuPage courses and heading a study of whether class rank should be eliminated.

Truemper insists it's the people around him - staff, students and parents alike - that make the school run as well as it does.

"I feel very fortunate to be in the position I'm in," he said. "I look at that as a very huge privilege to be in a role like this."

Truemper took the helm at North in 2001 as the school's third principal in a four-year span. Before that he spent three years as principal of Oswego High School, nine years at Naperville Central as an athletic director and assistant principal and 15 years working in Wheaton-Warrenville Unit District 200.

Among the achievements on his resume are the Service Award and Award of Merit from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, Illinois Athletic Director Association Hall of Fame induction, three IHSA Distinguished Service Awards and the Naperville North You Make a Difference Award.

He also is now eligible for the National High School Principal of the Year Award sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

But whether that resume will be dusted off again remains to be seen. Truemper says the reality of his impending retirement after 35 years in education has not yet hit him. At 56, he's not quite sure what's next, but he plans to stay active and likely will remain in the area.

Kevin Pobst, principal of Hinsdale Central High School, will take over for Truemper beginning July 1.

"I've been very fortunate that wherever I've been I felt like those were the best years of my life and - as I've become more mature as an administrative leader working with people, these eight years will be remembered as one of the best times of my life," Truemper said. "There are so many great things that have happened because of the great people and I have enjoyed a great ride here."