Fenton High School District picks new superintendent

Fenton High School District 100 has hired a new superintendent.

On Wednesday, the school board chose Jason Klein. He will start on July 1.

Klein is senior director of learning partnerships at Northern Illinois University’s College of Education.

He will replace Sam Bentsen, who is retiring.

“The Fenton Board of Education welcomes Dr. Jason Klein as our new Superintendent,” Board President Cary Lewis said in a news release. “Dr. Klein was very enthusiastic about the opportunity to join our great school, communicated his vision very well and spoke very highly of the work already being done at Fenton and his desire to help carry that work forward.”

Klein helped Fenton teachers, counselors and administrators create the district’s Postsecondary and Career Expectations Framework during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years.

“The values of the Fenton Community align with my personal values of caring for students, hard work on behalf of the community, and ensuring that each student has a full range of opportunities now and in their futures,” Klein said in a news release.

Klein Joined NIU in 2019. Prior to that, he was a principal in Palatine Community Consolidated School District 15 and an assistant superintendent with Maine Township High School District 207. He also previously served as a teacher, dean, principal, and chief information officer for Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21.

Bentsen took over as superintendent in March 2024 after the school board suspended James Ongtengco, who was the superintendent at the time.

Ongtengco was removed after a controversy about an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by a school employee. The conduct happened during his tenure with the district, first as principal of the school and then as district superintendent.