Homewood-Flossmoor High School Announced New Interim Principal

HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR, IL — Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School has announced that Dr. James Mitchem, Jr. will be the school's next interim principal for the 2021-22 school year. Mitchem Jr. is an educator with nearly 40 years of experience, according to a news release from the high school.

“Dr. Mitchem brings a wide breadth of experience to H-F, having served in many roles during his extensive career in education,” said Dr. Von Mansfield, District 233’s superintendent. “We are fortunate to have someone who is student-centered and who will be working diligently with staff this school year to provide the best teaching and learning opportunities at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.”

According to the release, Mitchem recently retired as superintendent from Valley View Consolidated Unit School District 365, and his career in education has spanned everything from teacher to dean of students, to the highest levels of administration.

The release states that prior to serving as District 365’s superintendent from 2011-2020, Dr. Mitchem served as principal at three different schools: Bolingbrook High School (2006-2011), Romeoville High School (2002-2006) and B.J. Ward Middle School (2000-2002) in Bolingbrook. He has also worked as an assistant principal and a dean of students, after beginning his career as a Physical Education teacher in Romeoville.

According to the release, Mitchem also served his alma mater, DePaul University, as director of Athletic Academic Advising from 1995-1999. From DePaul, he received a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, plus a Type 75 certification, and earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Argosy University.

Additionally, Mitchem volunteers as a Sunday School teacher and as a community basketball coach for grade schoolers, the release states.

“We are excited to have Dr. Mitchem bring his wealth of high school and leadership experience to Homewood-Flossmoor to help us continue the tradition of excellence that our district has enjoyed,” said Dr. Scott Wakeley, District 233’s superintendent-elect.

According to the release, under the direction of Mansfield and Wakeley, Mitchem will become an integral part of the district’s administrative team for the upcoming school year, which begins Monday, Aug. 9, for staff and teachers; Thursday, Aug. 12, for freshmen, sophomores and transfer students; and Friday, Aug. 13, for all H-F students.

All three administrators will be available to meet with the community at Flossmoor Park (2523 Flossmoor Road) at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 13, at a meet-and-greet event, sponsored by Flossmoor School District 161, according to the release.

Beginning this fall, the District 233 Board of Education will conduct a national search for the school’s next full-time principal, with an anticipated starting date of July 1, 2022.