Vernon Hills High principal leaving -- in five years

Vernon Hills High School Principal Ellen Cwick plans to step down from that post, officials confirmed Sunday, but not until July 2014.

That gives Cwick, the school's principal since 2003, five more years at the helm. She's announcing her departure so far in advance because of a new state retirement-system requirement.

"It's kind of a hard decision because it's so far away," Cwick said. "I've had so many awesome years with kids and staff. Five years from now, I should be ready to enter a new chapter in my life."

Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 leaders praised Cwick for a tenure that's seen the school meet its educational goals and improve college-entrance test scores.

"She's really helped to move the district forward," board member Judy Sugarman said. "She's done a great job."

District 128 Superintendent Prentiss Lea called Cwick "a world-class principal."

"When I think of Ellen, I think of (the) tremendous relationships she has developed with students and her staff and parents in the community," Lea said. "It underscores everything she does."

Cwick joined Vernon Hills as an assistant principal in 2001. She previously served as an assistant principal at Wheaton North High School and as the dean of students and dean of activities at Naperville North High School.

She also taught science and physical education in the Wheaton Warrenville school district from 1982 to 1992.

"When (the) five years are up, I will have given education 34 or 35 years," Cwick said. "It just feels like the right time."

Cwick is only the second principal in Vernon Hills High history. The first was Jim Whittington, who held the post from 1999 to 2003.

Whittington later returned to District 128 as a co-interim principal at Libertyville High School, a job he held for the 2008-09 term.

Former district administrator Marina Scott was named Libertyville's principal for the new school year.

The District 128 board is scheduled to discuss Cwick's pending departure during a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24 at Vernon Hills High School, 145 N. Lakeview Parkway.

Officials have plenty of time to search for Cwick's replacement. Lea would prefer to promote an employee already working in District 128.

"We've got some very capable people inside," he said.

Cwick likely will help her eventual replacement transition to the new job, Lea said.