DeKalb High School principal to take post at Kaneland High School

DeKALB – DeKalb High School will have a new principal next school year, as James Horne will soon leave to become principal at Kaneland High School.

Horne has been with DeKalb School District 428 for eight years, first starting as the assistant principal for curriculum. He’s been principal at the high school for the past five years.

During a virtual school board meeting Feb. 4, the Kaneland School Board unanimously voted to approve Horne for the position of Kaneland High School principal.

Horne described his new role in Kaneland as a homecoming. Before his time in DeKalb, he previously worked for the Kaneland School District as an English teacher, instructional coach and department chairman.

“I will miss the people the most when I leave DeKalb,” Horne said. “I’ll miss the students, staff and parents. I am very grateful for my time here, and I’m happy with the work I was able to do.”

It’s not yet clear when Horne will leave DeKalb schools, or what the plan for replacement of high school principal is. DeKalb school officials did not respond to request for comment regarding filling the soon-to-be-vacant post.

According to Kaneland School District 302 documents, Horne will replace current Kaneland High principal Jill Maras starting July 1 with an annual salary of $137,500. When he was hired by the DeKalb School District in 2017, Horne’s salary was set at $134,670.91.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, his Master’s from Northern Illinois University and is a doctoral candidate at Concordia University Chicago.

Horne said that through the years, he has liked everything about his role as principal.

“You have your hands in a lot of pots, making sure everything works correctly,” Horne said. “You help the system work throughout the building. You wear a lot of hats and get to interact with staff and students.”