On The Record With: Dundee-Crown High School principal Lynn McCarthy

CARPENTERSVILLE – The principal at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville refuses to count the days, even as the school year enters its final months.

Principal Lynn McCarthy said she feels bittersweet about the end of school because – unlike other years – McCarthy won’t return to Dundee-Crown when students start a new school year in August.

The self-described townie, who grew up in East Dundee, graduated from the former Dundee Community High School and did her student teaching at the former Irving Crown High School, will retire at the end of the year.

McCarthy spent her entire 20-year career in education at Dundee-Crown High School, including the past nine years as the Chargers’ principal.

Since the start of her career, McCarthy has witnessed a student population grow in numbers and diversity. She also saw all three of her children graduate from Dundee-Crown and go on to successful careers.

She noted how the school has improved student achievement, especially with reading, as it continues to battle a perception of a high school inferior to others in the area.

McCarthy recently sat down with reporter Stephen Di Benedetto to discuss her tenure at Dundee-Crown and her career in education.

Di Benedetto: Why stay nearly two decades at Dundee-Crown?

McCarthy: Even at that time – couldn’t now – see myself at a different building. My passion is for this building. When I came here, I always thought I was welcomed. I felt very comfortable here. I saw that teachers worked hard with kids. A lot of the kids struggled, but a lot of the kids excelled. It was almost having like two schools within the school. ... There are health concerns that I am taking care of. I’m stepping out, not necessarily because I want to. It’s a little bittersweet for me because my heads tells me, ‘Yes, you have to’ where my heart tells me, ‘No, no, no.’

Di Benedetto: Being principal for nine years, what do you like most about the job? What would you do differently?

McCarthy: I would like to get into classrooms more. Often times, the management duties limits the instruction piece. We started a few years ago a summer reading program. Each grade has a different read. I would read those books during the summer, too, and go into their classes and actually participate. I think the kids enjoy that, when they know you care enough to be a part of what they’re learning. I’ll go into math classes, sit and do some problems with them. Some times I can do them. Calculus class? Not so much. It also shows staff to try new things. I want them to be innovative in their classrooms. When I was a student, we were all in rows, sat there, took notes, listened to the teacher and didn’t interact. I don’t expect that.

Di Benedetto: Did you always want to go into education? How did this career path draw your interest?

McCarthy: Actually no, I thought I was going into law. I love constitutional law, but I met my husband and took a different path. While I was at college, I also picked up a social studies degree because my adviser said it’s always good to have in your back pocket. I started with that since I obviously didn’t go to law school. I started my family, instead. This was a viable option, and I liked working with kids and coaching. I coached tennis for 10 years. I liked the environment and seeing the kids grow and improve and make better choices.

OUTBOX

The Lynn McCarthy lowdown:

Hometown: East Dundee

Family: Husband, Richard; daughter, Amy, 32; sons, Daniel, 30, and Cory, 27

Education: Degrees in political science and economics and social studies education from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. A master’s in education leadership at Aurora University.

Favorite hobby: Gardening