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HHS Principal Named IPA 2025 High School Principal of the Year

Pictured left to right: Dr. Jeffry Prickett, IPA Kishwaukee Region Director and Principal, McHenry High School District 156; Dr. Brett Bending, IPA Kishwaukee Region Secretary and Principal, Cambridge Lakes Charter School; Kim Zinman, IPA Field Service Specialist; Dr. Marcus Belin, Principal, Huntley High School; Tom Kempf, IPA Kishwaukee Region Awards Chair and Assistant Principal, Huntley High School; Christy St. Germain, Business Development Specialist, Horace Mann

Belin with IPA and Horace Mann representatives

The Illinois Principals Association and Horace Mann Companies are pleased to announce that Dr. Marcus Belin, principal of Huntley High School, has been named the 2025 Illinois High School Principal of the Year. The award recognizes high school principals who have demonstrated a positive impact on their students and learning community. Criteria for the award includes:

  • Demonstrates a positive impact on education and advocacy for children;  
  • Ensures the school climate is positive and reflects high staff and student morale;
  • Moves actively to implement the goals and objectives of the school;
  • Works collaboratively with teachers and other staff to improve the educational program and student achievement; and
  • Involves the community in the life of the school and uses community resources for students.  

Dr. Belin has served as principal of Huntley High School for seven years and has spent 14 years as a school administrator. He has been actively involved in the Illinois Principals Association, having served in various leadership roles, and the National Association for Secondary School Principals (NASSP), where he currently serves as a board member and on various committees. Belin has also participated in NASSP conferences and in advocacy conferences in Washington D.C., and has presented at several administrator academies. He also serves as an adjunct professor at National Louis University.  

Belin ensures HHS students feel seen, valued, and heard by fostering a culture of emotional and physical well-being and prioritizing student feedback and advocacy. Through his Principal Student Leadership Council, he works closely with student leaders and creates opportunities for them to voice their concerns or suggestions, empowering them with the resources and support they need to thrive emotionally and academically.

To promote equity for both students and staff, Belin has focused on ensuring that everyone feels seen, valued, and heard through the Recognizing American Diversity (RAD) program. This initiative celebrates student backgrounds and encourages conversations around inclusion, fostering a sense of belonging for all. “We create spaces for students to express their identities, share their stories, and engage with their peers, helping to build an inclusive school culture,” he notes. 

Belin has also prioritized staff professional development that emphasizes understanding the high school student experience. “We equip teachers to create supportive, equitable environments within their classrooms by focusing on structure, expectations, observing behaviors, interacting positively, and correcting fluently, to recognize diverse needs and provide individualized support.” 

Huntley 158 Superintendent Jessica Lombard shared, “Dr. Belin strives to be a transformative leader, consistently advocating for students at both the state and national levels. His deep involvement in educational advocacy demonstrates his commitment to shaping policies that benefit students and educators alike. His student-centered leadership is evident as he strives to provide students platforms to voice concerns and ideas. Through his vision, advocacy, and dedication, Dr. Belin has created a culture that not only celebrates students, but it also uplifts the entire school community.” 

The High School Principal of the Year winner was selected from a pool of region nominees provided by the 21 regions of the Illinois Principals Association. Dr. Belin will be recognized at the IPA’s Education Leaders Annual Conference in October 2025. 

The Illinois Principals Association is a leadership organization that serves over 6,600 educational leaders throughout the state of Illinois. Learn more about the IPA at www.ilprincipals.org.