A Warm District 30 Welcome to New Maple School Principal Sam Kurtz!

A Warm District 30 Welcome to New Maple School Principal Sam Kurtz!

Wescott School Principal Chris Brown tweeted on July 1, "Welcome back to District 30 new Maple Principal Sam Kurtz! I am glad to have you back my friend and hope you enjoyed day one! #d30learns

Mr. Kurtz's reply: Thanks
@cmbrown for the warm welcome! It’s great to be back, and I’m ready for another awesome and inspiring day! #d30learns

Northbrook Tower/Lantern article from February 2020: Sam Kurtz’s career as an educator has come full circle.

"After starting his career as a sixth-grade science teacher at Maple School, he is returning to Maple School to serve as its new principal.

The Northbrook/Glenview District 30 Board of Education unanimously approved Kurtz as the successor to retiring Principal Dr. Nate Carter at its Thursday, Feb. 13 meeting.

“It is an honor to bring you home,” District 30 Superintendent Dr. Brian Wegley told Kurtz. “We are thrilled to have you back. Dr. Nate Carter left big shoes to fill.”

Since leaving the school as a teacher, Kurtz served as an associate principal at Shepard Middle School in Deerfield District 109 and then successfully led the merger of two North Shore District 112 middle schools as the principal of Edgewood Middle School in Highland Park.

“It is truly an honor to be back at Maple School and back in the District 30 community,” Kurtz said. “The roots of excellence go deep. It feels really good to be back.”

Kurtz is extremely well-acquainted with one of the teachers at the school — his wife, Leora, is a sixth-grade science teacher at Maple. The couple lives in Glenview with their 2-year-old daughter, Josie, and their 2-month-old son, Gavin.

Wegley said District 30 received 47 applicants from seven states for the position. Sixteen candidates were screened and four finalists went through multiple interviews that included a committee of administrators, school board members, Maple teachers, and parents of students.

“Throughout the interview process, Mr. Kurtz distinguished himself as incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful, kind, and capable,” Wegley said in announcing his hiring. “His references emphasized that he empowers and intellectually develops those around him and they described him as an ethical, strong leader, who is an expert in curriculum and instruction.

“His current superintendent shared that his work unifying two middle schools into one has been outstanding. He also highlighted that Mr. Kurtz is trusted implicitly and that Edgewood Middle School will be devastated by his departure.”

The new principal is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in biology and elementary education. He earned his first master’s degree at the University of Illinois in instructional leadership and a second master’s degree at Northern Illinois University in educational administration."

Superintendent Dr. Brian Wegley Announced Sam Kurtz's Appointment as New Maple Principal on February 14, 2020

Dear District 30 Family,

It is with enthusiasm that I announce Mr. Sam Kurtz as the next Maple School Principal! After beginning his career as a sixth-grade science teacher at Maple School, Mr. Kurtz served as an Associate Principal at Shepard Middle School in Deerfield Public Schools District 109. He then successfully led the merger of two middle schools as the principal of North Shore District 112’s Edgewood Middle School in Highland Park.

Mr. Kurtz graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Biology and Elementary Education. He then earned his first Master’s Degree at the University of Illinois in Instructional Leadership and a second Master’s Degree at Northern Illinois University in Educational Administration.

District 30 ran a comprehensive interview process for this vital position. After receiving 47 applicants from seven states, sixteen candidates were screened, and four finalists went through multiple interviews that included a committee of administrators, Board of Education members, Maple teachers, and parents.

Throughout the interview process, Mr. Kurtz distinguished himself as incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful, kind, and capable. His references emphasized that he empowers and intentionally develops those around him, and they described him as an ethical, strong leader, who is an expert in curriculum and instruction. His current superintendent shared that his work unifying two middle schools into one has been outstanding! He also highlighted that Mr. Kurtz is trusted implicitly and that Edgewood Middle School will be devastated by his departure.

Upon accepting this position, Mr. Kurtz said, “I look forward to collaborating with District 30’s administrative team, leading Maple forward, and serving our outstanding students, staff, and community!”

Please join me in welcoming Mr. Sam Kurtz as our next Maple Principal. He has proven to be an outstanding individual who will honor our culture and collaboratively lead Maple School into the future. Go Mustangs!