Northbrook's Daley earns Principal of Year award

By Brandon LaChance, Reporter
Posted 1/29/25

MENDOTA – Paula Daily feels fortunate.

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Northbrook's Daley earns Principal of Year award

Posted

MENDOTA – Paula Daily feels fortunate.

The Northbrook Middle School principal enjoys coming to work every day to work with her staff, educate the fifth-through-eighth grade students, and improve or influence all she can, whether it’s the school building itself, the education inside of it, and the region.

Add being named the 2025 Starved Rock Region Middle School Principal of the Year to the mix and fortunate becomes an understatement.

“It’s amazing and it’s really an honor. It starts by getting nominated by your peers in the Illinois Principals Association,” Daley said. “They then seek out recommendations in each district. A Northbrook teacher, Sarah Henkel, the District 289 Superintendent, Brad Cox, and Elyssa Elbers, the principal at Lincoln Elementary who was the assistant principal at Northbrook last year, all wrote letters.

“Those get submitted and choices are made. They notified me about the award a couple of weeks ago. It’s a huge honor. I love the Illinois Principals Association. It is very supportive. It’s a great organization.”

Daley came to Northbrook 11 years ago as an assistant principal and athletic director, was then an associate principal for two years, and has been the principal for the last eight years.

The Illinois Principals Association takes all of the region winners into consideration to select one middle school principal as the best in the state, which is awarded at the annual fall conference.

The Spartan principal was selected as a region principal of the year five years ago, but has never been chosen for the state recognition.

“When I saw the post this morning (Jan. 17) with all of us principals who won district awards, I know all of them and they’re all wonderful,” Daley said. “It’s really a good community to be in. I’ve never been chosen as the Middle School Principal of the Year for the state. That would be a huge deal. It would be a kind of affirmation.

“It’s not an easy position. It’s a lot of decision making. People are not always happy with those decisions, but you have to have a global view. Part of it, as I look at the names on the list, is longevity as well. It’s rare a principal stays anywhere more than five years. They’re actually doing studies on the situation. Every time a principal leaves, there is such a huge shift. It’s really difficult for districts to pick up from a principal leaving.

“They’re really working on longevity. I think I already have it. I think it makes everything easier and more comfortable.”

Writing the letter to recommend Daley for the Starved Rock Region recognition was easy for Cox.

He would write it twice if he could for each of his perspectives.

“In my seat, from being the superintendent to also being a parent with a son, Adam, at Northbrook, how great is it to know there is such a high-quality person leading the building with an environment of fifth- through eighth-grade students, which is full of challenges,” Cox said. “Paula is a leader who is going to take care of the kids and adults, and do so in a thorough, compassionate, experienced way. I don’t think you can put into words how remarkable and comforting that is, as a parent and an educator.”

Henkel has taught at Northbrook for 25 years and has been through a few different administrators.

The eighth-grade social studies teacher appreciates Daley’s overview look at every aspect of education.

“When I approach her with an initiative, such as working with Reimagine Mendota or local journalists presenting to my class, it’s been backed,” Henkel said. “Sometimes she pushes back a little bit and needs more information or reasoning to approve, but she greenlights anything she thinks is beneficial to the students.

“She’s very supportive and makes sure I cover all of my bases when I bring in outside organizations.”

Henkel sees areas Daley has either directly improved Northbrook and the Starved Rock Region or by championing and advocating for change and improvement. When it comes to Northbrook, she points out extracurricular expansion and putting the right teachers in the right places to feed student interest and piloting the Regional Office of Education Mentor program, which spread to Mendota High School and schools in the surrounding area.

The teacher saw the principal push for updates on the building even if they were brought to the forefront by Cox, the Northbrook staff, or by the district such as the gymnasium, new paint, new lights, and secured entrance.

As Northbrook’s athletic director, Heather Friedlein works hand-in-hand with Daley fairly often.

She feels the same way Henkel does about the principal.

“Ms. Daley is very deserving of this honor. She creates an environment where all students feel safe and can grow,” Friedlein said. “She promotes new experiences and pushes our school forward giving the students opportunities they normally wouldn't have. Ms. Daley is a proud Spartan through and through.”

Usually after an award in professional sports, the winner usually searches for perceived greener pastures.

Daley has no thought of going anywhere else but Northbrook.

“This is such a phenomenal community to be in because it’s so supportive. The District 289 School Board, every year I’ve been here, the board has been so supportive,” Daley said. “It’s comprised of wonderful people who are super involved. The past few years have been lovely. The Superintendent, Cox, is amazing, very supportive, a great listener, and a great person to bounce ideas off of because he has a great perspective.

“My administrative team is amazing. We have a lot of fun. Anybody will pitch in for anyone. The staff and the students at Northbrook are the most incredible people I’ve ever worked with. I love coming to school every day. There is never a day where I don’t want to be at work. I feel I get to go to a really cool place and spend time with really cool people.”