North Central College education alumni named principals of high-achieving high schools

Two alumni of North Central College’s master of arts in education (MAEd) program are assuming leadership positions at suburban Chicago high schools with reputations for academic excellence.

Brian Waterman is the new principal of Lyons Township High School in LaGrange while Mark Kolkman is becoming principal of Hinsdale Central High School. Both earned their master’s degrees in educational leadership at North Central College, Waterman in 2004 and Kolkman in 2002. Both positions are effective with the start of the 2014-2015 school year.

Waterman is principal of Hinsdale South High School, a position he has held for the past six years. He began his career in education in 1999 as a business education teacher at Westmont High School and became an assistant principal at Westmont in 2003. He also served as assistant principal at Glenbard North High School for three years.

Kolkman has been an assistant principal at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville since 2008. Previously he was an assistant principal for one year at Glenbard East High School after four years as the school’s athletic director. He was also a teacher, coach and assistant athletic director at Naperville Central High School and a teacher at Herscher High School in downstate Herscher.

North Central College offers a master of arts degree in education with emphasis in curriculum and instruction or educational leadership and administration. Master of arts in education is among seven graduate degrees offered at North Central College.