Associate Principal Eric Washington will become the next principal of Hillside High School in Country Club Hills, Bremen High School District 228 announced Wednesday.
Washington, who has worked within District 228 for 11 years, said Friday that he is excited for the opportunity to better engage parents as part of the Hillside community.
The district, which serves about 5,000 students in Midlothian, Posen, Tinley Park, Markham, Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills and Oak Forest, falls behind state learning standards for English/language arts, math and science.
In 2024, about 19% of District 228 students were assessed as proficient in English/language arts, compared to 39% of students across the state, according to Illinois Report Card data. In math, 16% of district students were proficient compared to 28% of students statewide and 41% of district students were proficient in science compared to 53% statewide.
“I think it’s about getting parents involved,” Washington said about his goals to improve student outcomes. “I want them to have some skin in the game too, so to speak, because that’s the only way any school is going to be successful, if it’s a collaboration between the school and the home.”
Washington was athletic director at Bremen High School in Midlothian for eight years before becoming associate principal at Hillcrest. He said he aspired for more direct interaction with students, which has allowed him to make a positive impact as associate principal.
“We put some systems in place over here at Hillcrest that are really student centered and are looking to build on student success and climate and culture,” Washington said. “I think we’re on a good path. We’ve done some really good things around here, but we’re not satisfied.”
Hillcrest Principal Ron Towner was promoted to assistant superintendent for personnel and student services in anticipation of Assistant Superintendent Dan Goggins’ retirement.
As associate principal, Washington’s salary was $130,000, or close to $176,000 including benefits, according to the district’s 2024 compensation report. As principal, Towner made about $173,000, or more than $223,000 with benefits.
Washington’s salary as principal, beginning July 1, will be $152,000, the district said Friday.
Washington grew up on Chicago’s South Side and said he developed a passion for education watching his mom work as a principal and his dad as an assistant principal.
“I’ve always kind of watched them from afar and saw how they treated kids and how much they cared about their students and how much they were loved by their students,” Washington said. “I admired that in them, and it made me want to do the same thing.”
Washington said once he entered education himself, he admired Bremen District 228 from afar and was excited to work with students in the southwest suburbs.
“I want to make this place the gem of the community,” Washington said. “I want this school to be number one. I think we’ve got some great teachers in this building that really care about kids and will go that extra mile. And we have a really great administrative team where we’re all on the same page, pulling on the same rope.”
“So there’s a lot of adults in this building that care about student success and climate and culture, and that’s what I’m looking most forward to — seeing what other great things we can do … to ensure the success of our students,” Washington said.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com