Waterman's Departure '100 Percent About LT,' Not D86

Brian Waterman is one of several Hinsdale Township High School District 86 administrator who have announced departures from the district over the last year, but the outgoing Hinsdale South principal said his decision has nothing to do with the administrative turnover or recent actions by the District 86 Board of Education. 

“This is 100 percent about Lyons Township,” Waterman said of his decision to leave. “I looked at it as a great professional challenge.”

Hinsdale Central principal Mike McGrory left at the end of the 2012-13 school year along with the district’s business manager and director of human resources, and Superintendent Nicholas Wahl left suddenly in August just two weeks before the 2013-14 school year began.

Waterman said he’ll approach being Lyons Township High School’s principal the same way he’s approached being Hinsdale South’s principal.

“High expectations for staff and students and remain visible and engaged in the overall community—I think those are the two things that I’ve tried to do here at South and hope to do the same things at LT,” Waterman said.

After finishing his sixth year as Hinsdale South’s principal, overseeing the education of students from Darien, Burr Ridge and Willowbrook, Waterman on July 1 will become LT’s new principal, taking over for the departing David Franson, who has led the school for the last 10 years.

Waterman, 39, said the LT job was the only one he was interested in and the only one he applied to last year, despite the fact that he has no prior connection to the school beyond it being in the same West Suburban Conference as Hinsdale South.

“I’m just looking forward to getting to know the LT community so when July 1 hits I’ll be ready to hit the ground running,” he said.

While he’s excited and humbled to have been selected as LT’s next principal, Waterman admits he’ll miss Hinsdale South.

“It’s very bittersweet,” he said of leaving his first principal position. “This is a wonderful community. There are so many strengths about it and so many things I will miss.”

Hinsdale South is a “world-class comprehensive suburban high school,” Waterman said.

“LT is definitely in that same category.”

Waterman lives in Downers Grove with his wife Julie and their three sons, ages 10, 8 and 6. He grew up in Taylorville, IL.

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