District 158 board names new superintendent
The Huntley Community School District 158 school board Thursday night named outgoing Huntley High School Principal Scott Rowe as the district's next superintendent.
His contract begins July 1 with a $200,000 base salary going up $5,000 each subsequent year through June 30, 2022. Rowe also will receive a $10,000 performance-based increase each year for successfully meeting set goals.
Rowe originally had been tapped to take on the role of associate superintendent for sixth through 12th grades, replacing Terry Awrey, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
Nearly 50 candidates from diverse geographic and professional backgrounds applied for the district's top job stemming from a national search conducted by Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates.
Rowe was selected from among three finalists - including a sitting superintendent of a suburban district and a former superintendent of a large out-of-state district.
"In the end, Dr. Rowe proved himself the best fit to carry forward the vision of the district," school board president Don Drzal said. "His track record of driving innovation and academic excellence at HHS over the past five years, along with his passion for working with the students and families of our community, demonstrates his capability to succeed in this new role."
Rowe was instrumental in implementing the high school's nationally recognized blended learning program and 1:1 initiative, and establishing its medical, engineering, and new fine arts and global studies academies. He also led the planning team for the high school's recently completed $35 million renovation and addition project.
Rowe was a social studies teacher and assistant principal for other districts before joining District 158 in 2011 as principal of Marlowe Middle School. He has been Huntley High's principal for five years.
His replacement, Marcus Belin, assistant principal of Dunlap High School near Peoria, will take the helm at Huntley High July 1.
Rowe has a bachelor's degree from Missouri State University and master's and doctoral degrees in education from Aurora University. He and wife, Melissa, live in Huntley and have two children attending district schools.