Brooks Middle School Wood Named Illinois' Top Middle School Principal

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Keith Wood, the principal at Brooks Middle School, has always been committed to raising the bar of expectations for the students he serves as a way of ensuring local kids have access to the best education possible.

Now, after 10 years on the job as the top administrator at the Bolingbrook middle school, the long-time education has been recognized as the Illinois Middle School Principal of the Year, the Illinois Principals Association and Horace Mann announced this week.

The award, handed out annually, recognizes middle school principals who have demonstrated a positive impact on their students and learning community. Nominees are judged based on their ability to make a positive impact on education and serve as an advocate for students, ensures that the school climate is positive and that morale among students and staff remains high and actively implements the goals of the school.

Recipients also work collaboratively with the community and with teachers and other staff to improve the educational program offered by the school, the organization said in a news release.

“Dr. Wood is supportive of his students, staff and community,” Jason Pascavage, principal of Bolingbrook High School said in the news release. “Dr. Wood plays a key role in students receiving supplies, tutoring and social emotional learning through the local H2O, which is a local non-profit that supports students. Keith has been an integral part of our Principal leadership team and is one of the original administrators that brought our most successful reading and writing interventions to the district.”

Wood has served as principal at Brooks Middle School for the last 10 years. He previously worked as principal and assistant principal at MacArthur Middle School in Berkley and has served as an adjunct professor at Concordia University.

Wood has been an active member of the Illinois Principals Association and has served as Three Rivers Region membership chair, Three Rivers Legislative Chair, and Three Rivers Diversity & Equity Chair, the release said.

“Principals must exhibit a variety of competencies to be effective leaders," Woods said in a news release. "First and foremost, a school leader needs to be mission driven. Any work we do is driven by a mission that has been collaboratively developed by a variety of stakeholders. Another competency is being an agent and manager of systems change. Through my leadership of school improvement teams, I can, with the help of others, determine the types of professional learning that need to occur for teachers to perform at a high level. Finally, I believe that I consistently promote a culture of high expectations where students are expected to learn and grow. I consistently challenge my staff to see the very best in our students and the community we serve.”

The Middle School Principal of the Year winner was selected from a pool of region nominees provided by the 21 Regions of the Illinois Principals Association. Wood will be recognized at the IPA’s annual Education Leaders Annual Conference in October.