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Brian Faulkner, a former assistant principal of Heineman Middle School who spent the past five years as principal of Harter Middle School in Kaneland District 302, has been hired as Heineman’s newest principal for the 2020-21 academic year.
The Huntley School District 158 school board approved Faulkner’s hiring during its Thursday meeting.
“Mr. Faulkner has distinguished himself as an educational leader with strong skills in developing positive school culture,” District 158 Superintendent Scott Rowe said in a news release. “In addition, he has driven a number of efforts focused on technology, personalized learning, and positive behavior development at the schools he has led.”
Heineman’s current principal, James Litchfield, announced earlier in the year that he would be taking a personal leave at the end of the school year but would lead the school throughout the remaining months of the spring semester. Litchfield and Faulkner have been in collaboration to ensure a smooth and positive transition.
According to the terms of his 1-year contract, Faulkner will receive a $116,000 salary and the school board will pick up and pay Faulkner’s entire contribution to the Illinois teachers’ Retirement System pension fund.
Faulkner also would be granted 20 working days of paid vacation time, 10 of which could carry over as sick leave days to a subsequent contract year if reemployed; 14 working days of sick leave; two personal days and two bereavement days each year. Unused sick leave or unreported sick leave to TRS will be reimbursed at $15 a day upon retirement, up to 40 days, according to the contract.
Faulkner had served as Heineman’s assistant principal from 2006 to 2012. He also served as principal of F.E. Peacock Middle School in Itasca before moving to Harter Middle School.
Faulkner has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and completed his master’s degree in educational leadership and administration at Benedictine University.