A fresh start for Larkin: New principal set to rebuild school's reputation

Few would disagree that Jon Tuin inherited a mammoth task when he was named principal of Larkin High School in Elgin.

The west side school, which underwent a massive housecleaning in January with Elgin Area School District U-46 Superintendent Jose Torres cutting 13 administrators at once, has a laundry list of recent troubles.

Failing test scores since 2003. Rifts between the school's administrators and teachers. Gang problems.

Tuin, a longtime principal at Willard Elementary School in South Elgin who spent last year as South Elgin High's assistant principal, was selected for the job because he'd bring a fresh perspective to the school, Torres said.

Tuin has been given a lot of latitude to begin the work of rebuilding Larkin, a school whose strong reputation in the 1980s and '90s has been tarnished.

Over the past few months, he has hired an almost entirely new administrative staff, changed the school's organizational structure and developed plans for increasing the number of college-bound students.

Much work still lies ahead, he says.

"People look at Larkin and they have a negative connotation," Tuin said. "Those on the inside know the issues but they also know the potential that exists here. ... It's like an onion. Layer after layer after layer."

Comings and goings

An early riser, Tuin says most days he heads to the school from his South Elgin home before 5 a.m. If he wants to sleep in, he arrives at 6.

One recent morning, a few hours before walk-in registration begins, Tuin zips up and down the school's hallways, his black shoes squeaking against the newly tiled floor.

Heading outside, he stops to watch a bit of morning football practice with new athletic director John Young, heading next to talk with cross country runners finishing their morning workout. Back inside, he heads to his desk, working on last-minute teacher hires. It's only 9 a.m.

He's kept up a similarly exhausting pace for the past few months.

Picking an entirely new staff, "was a lot of work, but I never complained about it," he said.

Torres said the administrative cuts were meant to speed change at the school.

"When I approached Jon with the opportunity, I told him the principal couldn't turn the school around alone. He needed to have a team. This is a lot more work, but the progress would have been a lot slower."

Of the 13 administrators Torres showed the door, only one, special education chair Joan Reidel, has returned as an administrator at Larkin. Tuin noted that Reidel will help new administrators "understand the school's history."

"I told him there were no preconceived notions about how many people should remain," Torres said.

After Tuin had selected various individuals as administrators, Torres had the final say.

"My name is all over this change, not yours," he said he told Tuin.

One or two of Tuin's recommendations, Torres said, were turned town. "Most were yes, a couple were questions," he said.

However, Torres said, "I'm not running Larkin from (district headquarters). He's put a strong team together."

In the past, the school has had chairmen for each academic department and deans in charge of discipline. Tuin has instituted a new policy.

All academic chairmen will also serve as deans this year; with 250 students apiece to supervise.

"That's very intentional," Tuin said. "When we hired these people, we weren't just looking for a math expert, but how they'll relate to people. We also wanted to send a strong message to everyone. Academics and discipline are everyone's job."

He gives much of the credit for the idea to Larkin's teachers.

"Listening to teachers, I started to hear themes. There was a lot of 'This is not my problem' going on in the past."

Listening to teachers wasn't one of the prior school administration's strong suits.

In January 2008, Larkin social studies teachers filed a union grievance accusing the district of inadequately training them to conduct a computer training session designed to raise scores on the Prairie State Achievement Exam. Teachers said targeting their classes diminished the value of their subjects.

A few months later, Larkin High School music supporters launched a campaign to keep Damon Carlson, the school's choral director, claiming he was unjustly asked to resign.

After the January cuts, Tim Davis, president of the 2,400-member Elgin Teachers' Association, warned that to move forward it would be vital to make sure teachers' thoughts and opinions were factored into new plans.

Davis said Friday that since Tuin was named principal, he has not heard any negative comments, be they from teachers, parents or members of the larger community.

He has heard concerns from teachers at other campuses, though not at Larkin.

"I think he's done a good job of taking the time to get feedback from all the stakeholders," Davis said. "... I think that's one of the key differences between Jon and past recent groups in Larkin - the willingness to reach out to others before making important decisions.

The students

The number one task ahead, Tuin says, is getting more kids college-ready.

According to 2008 report cards, 60 percent of Larkin's students are Hispanic and black. Nearly 50 percent of the student body comes from low-income homes.

"It's a unique school because of the variety of students that go to Larkin," Tuin said. "If we can get a huge percentage of students college ready, I really think colleges and universities will be more interested in (the school)."

Putting students in more challenging academic situations will be a big push next year, Tuin said.

Students participating in the district's new study skills course, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), have already seen their schedules changed to include more rigorous courses.

He said he'd also like to see more students take - and pass - advance placement courses for college credit.

"The problem is there's a very low number here going to four year schools. If we had half our students go to 4-year college, a third go to (community college), that would be a good place to start. I don't want to limit what we can do," he said.

"But we're not even there yet," he added. "Let's get there."

Many eyes will be on Larkin in the months ahead.

Most importantly will be the 2,100 eyes returning to school Aug. 26.

"The leadership sets the tone," Torres said. "The kids returning need to know this is a different school."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Who's who of new Larkin administrators</p> <p class="News">• Principal: Jon Tuin, from South Elgin High School</p> <p class="News">• Associate Principal: Darelea Livengood, from Liberty High School, Madera, Calif.</p> <p class="News">• Assistant Principal/Health Occupations chair/industrial tech chair: Randal Ellison, from C.F. Simmons Middle School, Aurora</p> <p class="News">• Head Dean: Jennifer Rosenzweig, from Stevenson High School</p> <p class="News">• Special Education: Joan Reidel, rehired to position at Larkin.</p> <p class="News">• English Language Learners program: Karina Luviano, from St. Charles District 303</p> <p class="News">• Fine Arts/Visual and Performing Arts Academy: Todd Duty, from Larkin fine arts department</p> <p class="News">• English: Erik Briseno, from Chicago Public Schools</p> <p class="News">• Math and Science: Kevin Wiland, from Mundelein High School</p> <p class="News">• Social Studies/Foreign Language: Elisa Biancalana, from Streamwood High School</p> <p class="News">• Interim Athletic Director: John Young, from Gompers Junior High School, Joliet</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=314114">U-46 gets upgraded financial ratings <span class="date">[8/17/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>