The Director of Fine Arts at Adlai E. Stevenson High School will take the principalship at Lakes Community High School next year. Stephen Plank will replace Jim McKay, who is preparing for his new position as co-superintendent of District 117 alongside Antioch Community High School Principal Mike Nekritz. These shifts in leadership follow Superintendent Jay Sabatino's retirement announcement and will take place beginning July 1.

The District 117 School Board approved Plank's appointment Dec. 17 and earlier approved the appointment of Eric Ernd, the assistant principal at Wauconda High School, as the new principal at Antioch Community High School.

  "I am very excited to be joining the Lakes High School family," Plank said.  "As Lakes forges ahead in aspiring to achieve greatness through a philosophy of continuous improvement, I am already getting excited about the work that lies ahead. Lakes is a school with all of the right ingredients to equip each and every student with the skills necessary to be globally competitive in the 21st century."
 

After earning his B.S. in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Plank was an instrumental band director for two years at the middle school level and two years at the high school level. His administrative experience includes serving as an associate principal and a principal, both at the high school level. Plank spent most of his career in Wisconsin before joining the Stevenson faculty in 2006.
 

"I anticipate that [Steve Plank] will bring valuable experience to Lakes. I look forward to working with him ," McKay said.
 

Before working at Wauconda, Ernd served as an assistant principal at Stillman Valley High School, physical education department chairperson at Lockport High School and dean of students at Thornridge High School. He began his career in education teaching physical education  and coaching at Thornwood High School. He is pursuing a doctorate degree at National-Lewis University.
 

Nekritz said Ernd brings with him "vast experience in education and great enthusiasm for our school and its students." 

Plank and  Ernd were selected from a pool of approximately 40 candidates, with input from students, parents, teachers  and administrators.

By Antioch Community High School District 117