Meet the principal: Dan Krause
Meet the Principal is an occasional series by Catherine Edman introducing readers to the men and women who sit in the corner offices of schools across DuPage County. Beyond learning why they entered education, you'll find personal details, such as whether they head to the North or South Side for a baseball game. We hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we have.
Dan Krause, principal, Willowbrook High School, Villa Park, DuPage High School District 88
Age: 35
Family: Wife, Katie, and son, Dean, 8
Grew up in: Burbank and Tinley Park
Your ultimate pet: English bulldog
What's your education philosophy in one sentence: Do whatever it takes to help students succeed.
Personal hero: My mom
How did you wind up in education? I chose the profession from the moment I left high school.
What is your dream vacation? European cruise.
If you won the biggest lottery in history you'd … help all of my family and friends pay off their debts.
Favorite reality show? American Idol
Cubs or Sox? Sox!
If you could invite one literary character to dinner, who would you pick and why? Mark Twain for an author, or Huck Finn for a character.
Musical guilty pleasures: Anything from Kid Rock or Eminem.
Favorite childhood book? "Huck Finn"
Bungee jumping, rappelling or parachuting? None yet, but parachuting is high on the list!
What's the most innovative program you've seen so far at school? Smaller learning communities.
What lasting impression do you hope to leave? Every student has something special to offer!
What's the worst influence on today's youth? No different than with us ... usually a peer with a whole lot of influence!
Thing that makes today's students distinct? Their access to information and acquisition of knowledge is amazing!
If I could change one thing about the world it would be … start to see one another as who we are and stop trying to change each other to be the same!
If you could paint your office any color it would be ... Columbia blue. (Willowbrook's school color. It's already done!)