VOL. XXVIII, NO. 1
OCTOBER 1, 1986
Assistant principal states
His new position allows him
"to work with the best"
His new position allows him
"to work with the best"
by Amy Sharman
This fall Dr. Paul Leathem, new Assistant Principal‑Faculty at Maine West, replaces Dr. Tom Cachur who became the principal at Maine South.
Dr. Leathem explains that he applied for the job at West. ''because Maine is one of the top high schools in the state. This position came as an opportunity to work with the best. Maine High School District is one of the best districts in the state. Its reputation is well known. When the opportunity opened up, I decided to come over.''
Dr. Leathem continues, "Maine West is the best organized school that I've been at. I think that this school has more for students than any other school I've been at. The teachers here have more experience, there are more supplies and equipment that the students have access to and the building is better kept and neater. Maine has been recognized as a school that works. That's really important."
Dr. Leathem continues to state that the programs at West impressed him. He mentions the art and photography wing which is available for students interested in those fields. There is also the, "Media center, computer labs, athletic equipment and teachers with experience. Maine is leading the state in Criterion Reference
Testing and there is a program for test preparations." He adds that "Maine West has the money, supplies and staff to make it an effective school."
Dr. Leathem comments on his goals by saying. "The number one thing I want to do now is to try to get to know the faculty and support staff. I want to find out about how Maine West works, then I can help make it work." He also would like to get to know the student body by attending student activities and walking through the school."
Right now Dr. Leathem has not set any specific goals for improving the system. He says, "Everybody always tries to improve... I trust we'll continually try to improve the program. Some of the goals that have been identified by Dr. Coburn - I'll try to help with those."
This fall Dr. Paul Leathem, new Assistant Principal‑Faculty at Maine West, replaces Dr. Tom Cachur who became the principal at Maine South.
Dr. Leathem explains that he applied for the job at West. ''because Maine is one of the top high schools in the state. This position came as an opportunity to work with the best. Maine High School District is one of the best districts in the state. Its reputation is well known. When the opportunity opened up, I decided to come over.''
Dr. Leathem continues, "Maine West is the best organized school that I've been at. I think that this school has more for students than any other school I've been at. The teachers here have more experience, there are more supplies and equipment that the students have access to and the building is better kept and neater. Maine has been recognized as a school that works. That's really important."
Dr. Leathem continues to state that the programs at West impressed him. He mentions the art and photography wing which is available for students interested in those fields. There is also the, "Media center, computer labs, athletic equipment and teachers with experience. Maine is leading the state in Criterion Reference
Testing and there is a program for test preparations." He adds that "Maine West has the money, supplies and staff to make it an effective school."
Dr. Leathem comments on his goals by saying. "The number one thing I want to do now is to try to get to know the faculty and support staff. I want to find out about how Maine West works, then I can help make it work." He also would like to get to know the student body by attending student activities and walking through the school."
Right now Dr. Leathem has not set any specific goals for improving the system. He says, "Everybody always tries to improve... I trust we'll continually try to improve the program. Some of the goals that have been identified by Dr. Coburn - I'll try to help with those."
In listing his responsibilities, Dr. Leathem comments, "I'm still learning them." He works with creating the master schedule for the building. He says, "I help plan when classes are going to be taught, where they'll meet and student scheduling and I work with the head custodian on general building issues."
Dr. Leathem also tries to help the department chair people by discussing curricular and staff issues with them. He also heads the substitute teacher program.
Dr. Leathem will help with some projects and goals Dr. Coburn has made to improve the school. "For example," Dr. Leathem explains, "this year we're going to work on a profile of the Maine West student." The project will involve questionnaires given to the students in order to find out the values, ideas and attitudes of the students.
Before taking the position at West as Assistant Principal, Dr. Leathem worked at Hobert High School in Hobert, Indiana for three years where he taught social studies and English. He then later worked as a vocational counselor for nine years at Thorton Fractional South High School in Lansing. IL. In Gurnee, IL, at Warren Township High School, Dr. Leathem took the position of Assistant Principal‑Curriculum for four years and then became the Principal at Dc Kalb High School where he stayed for two years.
He switched to administrative work while he worked at TFS and planned programs in the vocational area. He says, "I enjoyed working with people on planning programs."
Dr. Leathem has spent a large amount of time and effort on expanding his own education. In 1968 he received his BA in history from Purdue, in '70 he got his masters in counseling and guidance also from Purdue and last year Dr. Leathem earned his Doctorate in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University.
In Dr. Leathem's free time he enjoys running. He comments, "I've run over 25,000 miles in the last 10 to 12 years." And in the past years he's enjoyed playing chess. Dr. Leathem also likes to spend time with his wife and son who attends Algonquin Junior High. Dr. Leathem states, "As a family, we like to do things together,"
Dr. Leathem also tries to help the department chair people by discussing curricular and staff issues with them. He also heads the substitute teacher program.
Dr. Leathem will help with some projects and goals Dr. Coburn has made to improve the school. "For example," Dr. Leathem explains, "this year we're going to work on a profile of the Maine West student." The project will involve questionnaires given to the students in order to find out the values, ideas and attitudes of the students.
Before taking the position at West as Assistant Principal, Dr. Leathem worked at Hobert High School in Hobert, Indiana for three years where he taught social studies and English. He then later worked as a vocational counselor for nine years at Thorton Fractional South High School in Lansing. IL. In Gurnee, IL, at Warren Township High School, Dr. Leathem took the position of Assistant Principal‑Curriculum for four years and then became the Principal at Dc Kalb High School where he stayed for two years.
He switched to administrative work while he worked at TFS and planned programs in the vocational area. He says, "I enjoyed working with people on planning programs."
Dr. Leathem has spent a large amount of time and effort on expanding his own education. In 1968 he received his BA in history from Purdue, in '70 he got his masters in counseling and guidance also from Purdue and last year Dr. Leathem earned his Doctorate in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University.
In Dr. Leathem's free time he enjoys running. He comments, "I've run over 25,000 miles in the last 10 to 12 years." And in the past years he's enjoyed playing chess. Dr. Leathem also likes to spend time with his wife and son who attends Algonquin Junior High. Dr. Leathem states, "As a family, we like to do things together,"
