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September 29, 2021

Jason Leahy, executive director of IPA, presented HHS Principal Marcus Belin with a president's ring at the Sep. 16 D158 Board of Education meeting
Huntley Community School District 158 - Facebook
Jason Leahy, executive director of IPA, presented HHS Principal Marcus Belin with a president’s ring at the Sep. 16 D158 Board of Education meeting

Features, News • September 29, 2021

Huntley High School’s principal named president of the Illinois Principals Association

By

HUNTLEY – At the Sep. 16 Huntley Community School District 158 (D158) Board of Education meeting, Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association (IPA), announced the exciting news regarding Huntley High School (HHS) Principal Marcus Belin.

“This past spring Dr. Belin was voted on as or developed actually two springs ago now, as president-elect of the association. Elected into that position by his peers throughout the state and now he is serving his term as president for the 2021-2022 school year,” said Leahy. “In this role, he has the opportunity not only to govern our board of directors but also serve in capacity as an advisor with the state superintendent. [He] has the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. and advocate for public schools throughout Illinois in congress and a variety of other things.”

Leahy also acknowledged Belin’s other notable accomplishments including being named as the NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals) digital principal of the year and being recognized as an ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) Emerging Leader.

Following his announcement to the board, Leahy presented Belin with a “president’s ring.”

“That’s why I’m here tonight (Sep. 16), is to present [the ring] to him with all of you as we get a quick opportunity not only to celebrate him but also the school district and the support that you provide him. On behalf of the association, I’m definitely grateful for that and what you do on his behalf because it not only serves him but also IPA and all the school leaders that we serve throughout the state,” said Leahy.

Belin then stepped up to the podium to thank D158’s Board of Education for allowing him the flexibility to serve as a leader at both HHS and IPA.

“It’s a pleasure to serve the IPA and I’m just excited. Our fall conference is coming up where we’ll be able to come together as school leaders across the state and this is our fiftieth anniversary. So, this is an exciting time for the association especially being 6,000 members strong,” Belin said.

He continued, “But first Dr. [Scott] Rowe and to the board as well as the district cabinet, just the support of allowing me to be able to do my job as principal but to be able to serve in this capacity as well. Some people think that the time spent in the district, as well as the time spent at IPA, conflict but we make them work and I appreciate organizations being able to work together for me to be able to do this. So, thank you for your support.”

IPA is an organization that works to provide educational leaders with high-quality professional development, networking opportunities, and advocate on their behalf with state and federal legislators and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).