Mr. Luke Munch, Assistant Principal of Mokena Junior High School in Mokena School District 159, has been named the Assistant Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association (IPA),Three Rivers Region. This prestigious award recognizes and honors outstanding school leaders who have made exemplary contributions to the profession and have shown leadership in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students.
Mr. Munch has served as the assistant principal of Mokena Junior High School since 2019. His leadership has been instrumental in designing school improvement plans that have shown unprecedented learning growth at the junior high school. He has also been key in collaborating to develop and support instructional programs for a variety of learners in the school. Under his guidance, the junior high has recently received two exemplary ratings from the state of Illinois.
"Mr. Munch has been a dedicated and influential leader at Mokena Junior High School for the past six yeras, where his passion for education, commitment to excellence, and unwavering support for students and staff have made a lasting impact,” said Mr. Steve Stein, Superintendent of Mokena School District 159. “His leadership exemplifies the very best in educational administration, and this well-deserved recognition highlights his outstanding contributions to the Mokena school community.”
The IPA’s Assistant Principal of the Year Award is based on a rigorous set of criteria, including a proven ability to work collaboratively with staff to improve educational programs, create a positive school climate, and willingness to take risks to improve student learning. Mr. Munch’s accomplishments in these areas make him a standout educator in our region and throughout the state.
"We are extremely proud of Mr. Munch for being named as the IPA Three Rivers Region Assistant Principal of the Year,” stated Mokena Junior High School Principal, Dr. Mike Rolinitis. “I know no one who works harder and gets better results than Mr. Munch. The recognition by the Illinois Principals Association is appreciated and I'm happy to say that this award is well deserved."
Mr. Munch will represent the region as he will now be advanced into the pool for the Illinois Principal Associations state finalist for Assistant Principal of the Year.