Congratulations to Dr. Neil Lesinski, Superintendent of District 155, for being named as a finalist for the Innovative Superintendent of the Year award for 2024 in the State of Illinois. This annual award, sponsored by Sibme, recognizes superintendents who exhibit creative and cutting-edge strategies to foster a culture of continuous improvement among their teams. 

Dr.Lesinski has been instrumental in adapting to a changing school district. According to Dr. Kevin Werner, Chief Officer of Finance & Operations, "Neil developed an International Newcomer Center and supporting peer teacher coaching program to collaborate with our newcomer students to practice English and content-area academic skills.” By establishing a peer teacher coaching program, Dr. Lesinski ensures that professional learning is relevant to the individual needs of each teacher, and fosters a sense of community among staff.

Dr. Lesinski's approach to reflection and collaboration among teachers is rooted in active listening and empathy. "Neil treats each staff member with respect while reaching decisions through ongoing collaboration and consensus building.”

Ultimately, this sense of professional community impacts students first. As Dr. Werner shared in his nomination, “The impact that Neil has had on our district is incredible! Each year we conduct a School Culture Survey. Following his first year as Superintendent, 94.2% of students agreed that they feel like they belong in their school community, up from 74.3% from the prior year.”

Neil Lesinski’s nomination is a testament to his dedication and the positive impact he has made on Community High School District 155. His innovative approach to leadership, continuous improvement, and professional development sets a benchmark for other education leaders to follow.

Three District 155 Students have been named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Adam Kyrouac and Justin Weber from Crystal Lake Central High School, along with Jackson Woestman from Cary-Grove High School, have achieved this honor based on their outstanding performance on the 2023 Preliminary SAT.

These accomplished students are among approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. They now have the opportunity to compete for National Merit Scholarships, which total more than $28 million.

Adam Kyrouac, student at Crystal Lake Central High School is a dedicated participant in various extracurricular activities. He proudly holds the prestigious position of first chair in the Symphonic Band and serves as the lead tenor saxophonist in the Jazz Band, where he is also a member of the Jazz Combo. Adam is also a section leader of saxophones and a part of the cross country team. Beyond music, Adam leads the hardware division in the computer club. After High School Adam plans to pursue a degree in sound and music production. 

Justin Weber, student at Crystal Lake Central High School  is actively involved in Science Olympiad, Interact Club, and serves as co-captain of the Math Team. His accomplishments include being named to the High Honor Roll, earning the title of AP Scholar with Distinction, and securing third place at the state level in Forensics for Science Olympiad. After high school, Justin plans to pursue a degree in physics.

Jackson Woestman, student at Cary-Grove High School, excels both academically and in extracurricular activities. He serves as the captain of the science olympiad team, which has advanced to the state competition for the past two years. Jackson is also the co-lead of the robotics programming team, a member of the National Honor Society, a part of the math team, and the Scholastic Bowl team, which has claimed the conference championship for the last two years. After high school, Jackson plans to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he will pursue a degree in Systems Engineering.

To become finalists, each semifinalist must submit a comprehensive scholarship application, which includes academic records, details of extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and a personal essay. Finalists will be announced in February 2025, with scholarship winners selected from this distinguished group.

The recognition of these three students highlights District 155's commitment to academic excellence and our dedication to preparing students for success in post-secondary education and beyond.

All four District 155 high schools ranked among the top 14% of public high schools in the nation for a sixth consecutive year. The U.S. News Best High Schools rankings assess nearly 25,000 public high schools across the United States. 

All four schools also earned recognition among the best high schools in the state of Illinois.

Prairie Ridge High - 64

Cary-Grove - 69

Crystal Lake South - 86

Crystal Lake Central - 121

“This recognition signifies a validation of our district's unwavering commitment to excellence in education. It's a testament to the dedication of our educators, the hard work of our students, and the support of our community,” said Dr. Neil Lesinski, Superintendent. “Being recognized among the top high schools in the nation highlights the collective effort invested in preparing our students to find their purpose.

These rankings offer a comprehensive view of educational performance, providing valuable insights into the success of high school education nationwide. Approximately 18,000 schools are evaluated based on criteria such as state assessments and their effectiveness in preparing students for college.