Holiday In Aurora Named After Waubonsie Valley High School Principal

AURORA, IL — The principal of Waubonsie Valley High School now has his own holiday in Aurora.

In the cafeteria packed with students and staff, Mayor Richard Irvin and other officials surprised Principal Jason Stipp Monday with the Mayor's Award of Educational Excellence as well as a proclamation naming his birthday, Nov. 7, as Jason Stipp Day.

The celebration comes on the heels of Stipp being named last week the 2025 Outstanding Educator of the Year by the Illinois PTA.

"For the past 13 years, Mr. Stipp has served as the principal of Waubonsie Valley High School tirelessly working to nurture an environment of learning, growth and community involvement," Irvin read from the holiday proclamation.

Stipp has helmed the high school, located at 2590 Ogden Ave., for 13 years. During his tenure, Waubonsie Valley has ranked among the top 25 best public high schools in the state and the top 1.5 percent of more than 20,000 public high schools across the country.