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New Trier principal leaves Winnetka campus for position at Northwestern
Timothy Dohrer, principal of New Trier High School's Winnetka campus, has tendered his resignation and accepted a new position at Northwestern University. | Photo courtesy of New Trier School District 203
Updated: February 26, 2013 2:28PM
WINNETKA — Timothy Dohrer, principal at New Trier High School’s Winnetka campus, has tendered his resignation and accepted a position at Northwestern University, a new release from District 203 stated.
Dohrer, a 23-year veteran of New Trier, has served as Winnetka campus principal since 2009. He will leave the school at the end of June and his appointment at Northwestern becomes effective July 1.
“It’s been an incredibly tough decision and one that’s not being taken lightly,” Dohrer said. “I have grown up here at New Trier High School. My entire professional career as an educator has been affiliated with this school.”
The School Board accepted Dohrer’s resignation at its Feb. 19 meeting and will immediately begin searching for a replacement.
While leaving New Trier, Dohrer returns to Northwestern, where he earned his masters degree in 1996 and has worked as an adjunct faculty member since 2004.
In his new role, Dohrer will become the director of teacher education at Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy. He will oversee all teacher certification programs at Northwestern and direct its master of science in education program.
“The thrill of helping young adults come to the teaching profession for the first time is something I really look forward to,” Dohrer said. “I’m really excited about being able to do that full-time and help transition new generations of teachers to a classroom. The chance to teach again in the classroom is something that I missed.”
Dohrer added that he will always remember his time at New Trier as special, calling it a “tremendous honor” to serve as principal. Dohrer’s wife is a graduate of New Trier and their oldest daughter will become a freshman at the school this fall.
Dohrer informed his staff and colleagues of his decision Wednesday morning.
“Tim has been a tireless supporter of New Trier and a valuable leader in a number of roles for more than 20 years,” said New Trier Superintendent Linda Yonke. “We will miss his leadership, his enthusiasm and his devotion to the school. While his departure is a loss to New Trier, it is a gain to the teaching profession as he helps train the next generation of teachers at Northwestern University.”
Dohrer said the opportunity was one he couldn’t pass up.
“We teach students here about following their passions and following their dreams and I feel like I’m role modeling that for students and adults,” Dohrer said. “The people I have worked with here as my colleagues and the students who have been part of my life (are what I will most remember). I see faces pop in my head of certain people who have been a part of my life the last 23 years. I love, love this school.”
Dohrer began working at New Trier in 1990 as an English teacher and served as the English Department coordinator at the Northfield campus from 2000 to 2006. He later accepted a position as curriculum and instruction coordinator, and took on additional research-based roles for District 203.
Dohrer was appointed Winnetka campus principal in 2009 after serving as interim principal the previous school year.
