Daniel Hill was hired as the next principal of Maine West High School at the Feb. 2 Board of Education meeting. He will assume the role on July 1, 2026.
“I am extremely excited to have Daniel on the team,” Superintendent Dr. Tatiana Bonuma says. “The feedback from our building panels was overwhelmingly positive and matched what we learned through the entire interview process, that Daniel is an educator who is a learner, leader, and coach. He is eager to immerse himself in the traditions at Maine West and focus on academic excellence and a sense of belonging for every student.”
There were 24 applicants for the position and Daniel participated in four rounds of interviews to earn the position. One of the later rounds in the process included a nearly full day of interviews at Maine West. That day he interviewed with approximately 18 students and parents, a panel of 14 teachers and staff, and 11 Maine West administrators. Additionally, he toured the building with Board member Dana Jaime.
Students and parents were struck by Daniel’s authentic presence, noting that he is approachable, possesses a great sense of humor, and is clearly “student-focused.” During his tour, he “high-fived” students and engaged naturally in the hallways, demonstrating his commitment to visibility and connection. Staff and faculty were equally impressed by Daniel’s commitment to transparency and his belief that “healthy adults create healthy students.” He spoke about how “change happens at the speed of trust” and emphasized a systems-based approach to problem-solving that prioritizes support over blame. The building administrators valued his extensive administrative leadership and experience.
To identify the ideal candidate before the multiple rounds of in-person interviews, District 207 held focus groups with teachers, support staff, 10-month administrators, 12-month administrators, parents, and students to learn what they believed were the traits and characteristics needed in the new principal. In addition, a survey was conducted to solicit stakeholder feedback on the type of leader who would be successful in the role. Based on all the feedback, a principal profile was created to identify candidates who best matched the qualities stakeholders ranked highest. That profile was shared with all stakeholders and is posted on the district website.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as the next Principal of Maine West High School,” Hill says. “From my interactions with students, parents, staff, as well as school and district leadership, it is clear that Maine West is a special community with a strong commitment to excellence and belonging. I am excited to partner with the Maine West community to support students, staff, and families and to build on the school’s proud traditions.”
Hill currently serves as Lead Co-Principal at Waukegan High School, Washington Campus and the Alternative/Optional Education Center (AOEC), which has an enrollment of approximately 4,200 students in grades 9 through 12. The position of Lead Co-Principal means Hill oversees all campuses, while serving as the principal at the 11-12 building and the AOEC Campus, while supporting the Co-Principal at the 9th-10th-grade campus. While physically located most of the time at the Washington and AOEC Campus, ultimately Hill is responsible for all campuses. He has been with Waukegan Public Schools for his entire educational career. Hill started as a math teacher at Jack Benny Middle School in 2002 and was promoted to Dean of Discipline at the school in 2008. He was hired as the Assistant Principal at Robert Abbott Middle School in 2011. He became the Principal at Clearview Elementary School in 2015. In 2020, he was promoted to Co-Principal at Waukegan High School Washington Campus. Then in 2022 assumed the role of Lead Co-Principal.
During his tenure as Lead Co-Principal he has provided instructional and operational leadership at Washington Campus as well as the district’s alternative high school program. In addition, as part of his role he has supported the leadership of the 9th-10th-grade campus. His current work includes supervising and evaluating staff, master scheduling, allocating all resources, overseeing the budget, and ensuring compliance with all district policies and Illinois School Code requirements. A central focus of Hill’s leadership at Washington Campus has been to strengthen instructional quality. He co-authored and implemented a five-year high school transformation plan that included high-impact instruction, data-informed decision making and continuous improvement. The graduation rate at Waukegan High School increased from 74% to 84% as part of an effort completed by a team that was led by Hill.
He was named the 2025 Lake County Principal of the Year by the Lake Region of the Illinois Principals Association. At the time, Hill spread the credit for the individual honor. “I do not do this work alone,” he said at the time. “The leadership team, they put in the work with me.”
As part of his application for the position, Hill described many accomplishments during his time at Washington Campus, including a 185% increase in student participation in activities and programs over the past two years, resulting in a higher level of connectedness among students. Hill also strengthened the communications systems by expanding partnerships with community organizations to enhance family engagement. Part of that effort was recognized by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris in mathematics. He also holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Xavier University and a second master’s degree in educational administration from the American College of Education. Hill has served as Vice President of the Men of Color in Educational Leadership, Waukegan Chapter, since 2020.
A transition plan encompassing the next five months will be developed to help him learn about Maine West as well as meet with staff and other stakeholders. The goal is to smooth the learning curve so that he gathers additional information and insights to assist him when he officially begins the role on July 1, 2026.
Current Maine West principal Dr. Eileen McMahon was recently appointed Director of Educator Performance and Development, a district-office position.