Kevin Finnegan
Rockford School District 205
South Beloit,IL
1
Certification
21
years of professional experience
Transformational leader skilled in fostering collaboration and driving innovation in educational settings. Expertise in addressing challenges within education enhances work culture and promotes growth for students and staff. Committed to creating environments that support success through effective teamwork and positive engagement.
Work History
Bloom Elementary School Principal
1 Year 3 Months- Led school to achieve Commendable Status through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for the first time in school history.
- Successfully increased overall student attendance to over 90% for the first time.
- Achieved the highest year-to-year increase in Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) reading scores across all of Rockford Public Schools in 2026.
- Fostered a collaborative, data-driven school culture focused on continuous academic improvement and student well-being.
- Managed school climate initiatives to support safe, orderly, and inclusive learning environments.
- Coordinated implementation of MTSS, PBIS, and student intervention strategies across grade levels.
Assistant Superintendent
1 Year- Developed and implemented safety plans for district serving over 1500 students, enhancing overall student safety
- Chaired Literacy Task Force to assess and align district literacy practices with Science of Reading and Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, improving literacy outcomes
- Facilitated monthly leadership meetings with Curriculum Coordinator, Tech Director, Maintenance Director, and building principals to drive collaborative decision-making and strategic initiatives
Elementary School Principal
13 Years- Led building that was 2014 and 2023 National Blue Ribbon Award recipient and is one of 85 worldwide elementary schools designated a Model PLC school by Solution Tree
- Received the 2023 Terrel H. Bell Award from the United States Department of Education as an exemplary building leader.
- Achieved recognition as one of three schools in Illinois at the 2017 Raising Student Achievement Conference.
- Initiated, planned, created, and developed first-ever Northern Illinois Small District Conference, an event for more than 500 educators and multiple vendors
- Collaborated with staff to create new schedule for professional-learning community structure
- Implemented first-ever Standards-Referenced Report Card at building, a common reporting document throughout the grade levels Pre-K through 4th
- Managed a school that received the Academic Excellence Award for quality for six consecutive years.
- Developed first-ever Pre-K at school, incorporating the first truly blended Pre-K in the area, a model since replicated at numerous neighboring districts
- Administered a building that earned the 'Well Organized' label, the highest rating possible, from the 5Essentials survey required by Illinois law.
- Managed a building that achieved Exemplary Status from the Illinois Board of Education for three consecutive years, the only school to do so in Boone-Winnebago Counties.
- Co-chaired committees on teacher evaluation, RtI, curriculum and assessment, elementary standards-based report cards, finance, and district curriculum alignment, and led district ELA committee
- Improved state IAR scores to be in the top 2% of the state
Middle School Assistant Principal/Principal
2 Years- Created district RtI plan and headed committee for district RtI implementation
- Instituted Guided Study program for progress monitoring as part of RtI
- Instituted Guided Study program for progress monitoring within RtI
- Participated in daily team, district leadership, board, Parent-Teacher Organization, Special Education IEP, and 504 meetings to foster collaboration and communication across stakeholders
- Developed and facilitated staff development workshops on RtI, PBIS, common formative assessments, effective meetings, AIMSweb, and interdisciplinary units to enhance teaching practices and student outcomes
- Designed and executed entire student schedules through PowerSchool for 275 students
- Chaired district science curriculum committee and sat on the committee for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and committee for Discipline Code
- Collaborated with staff daily about lessons, classroom management ideas, and differentiated lessons
- Attended daily team meetings, district leadership meetings, district board meetings, every Parent-Teacher Organization meeting, Special Education IEP meetings, and 504 meetings
- Created and updated building website at www.northboonems.com
- Implemented and enforced discipline code to ensure a safe and respectful learning environment for all students
Middle School English Teacher
3 Years- Developed interdisciplinary units that enhanced collaboration among teachers and enriched student learning experiences
- Organized fundraising event to support family affected by fire
- Planned and modeled staff development unit on Professional Learning Communities
- Planned and modeled staff development unit on Professional Learning Communities, promoting collaborative teaching strategies among staff
- Staff basketball game
- Organized school and community forum for House of Representative candidates to come speak to students
- Organized school and community forum for House of Representatives candidates to come speak to students
Middle School Reading and English Teacher
1 YearEducation
Doctoral Program - Educational Administration and Foundations
GPA: 4.0
Type 75 Masters Certification Program - Educational Leadership Program
GPA: 3.89
Masters - Elementary Education
- Middle School Endorsements in Social Science and Language Arts
- GPA: 4.0
Bachelors - Communication
Skills
Instructional leadership
Collaborative learning
Curriculum development
Team building
Public speaking
Goal planning
Education administration
Certification
Illinois General Administrative Professional Educators License, 06/30/25, 1814913, Superintendent, General Administrative, Chief School Business Official
Awards
- 2016 Puri Family Golden Apple Foundation Outstanding Principal Award
- 2017 Illinois Board of Education Those Who Excel Award of Excellence in School Administration
- 2023 U.S. Department of Education Terrel H. Bell Award for Principal Excellence
- Podcast guest on Transformative Principals (episode 333) and Extraordinary Educators (episode 65)
- Organizer and speaker at the Small District Conference
- Featured speaker at Raising Student Achievement Conference for four years
- Guest editorial writer for Rockford Register-Star on reopening schools following pandemic
- Opening Day Speaker/Presenter for Channahon School District
- Featured speaker at ISBE conference, IEA/NEA conference, Curriculum Associates conference, and Illinois Teacher’s Conference
Testimonials
- "He has a relationship with every single staff member, teacher, and student in this building." Mrs. Traci Hill, Pre-K Teacher
- "We always liked how you were constantly positive toward the kids on your team even when things were not going well." Brad Salley and Tom Sternquist, Umpires
- "Teachers enjoy working with Kevin and trust and respond to his judgment." Mr. Pete Rehnberg, Principal
- "His drive for the industry, the community, the parents, his staff, and of course, the students shine through each day." Mrs. Kimberly Aulenbacher, School Board President
- "Kevin is a passionate leader who has the skill and understanding to inspire his colleagues to work in a collegial manner to meet the challenges of a twenty-first century school." Mr. Ted Rehl, Former Superintendent
- "(Kevin) has proven through enthusiasm, dedication, and compassion that he could empower a staff and community to be better than ever expected." Mrs. Amy Wright, Reading Specialist/ Teacher Coach
Timeline
Bloom Elementary School Principal
Rockford School District 205
07.2025 - CurrentRead More
Assistant Superintendent
Rockton School District
06.2024 - 06.2025Read More
Elementary School Principal
Prairie Hill School
01.2011 - 01.2024Read More
Middle School Assistant Principal/Principal
North Boone Middle School
01.2009 - 01.2011Read More
Middle School English Teacher
North Boone Middle School
06.2006 - 06.2009Read More
Middle School Reading and English Teacher
Challenger Middle School
06.2005 - 06.2006Read More
Ohio University
Bachelors from Communication
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Aurora University
Masters from Elementary Education
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DePaul University
Type 75 Masters Certification Program from Educational Leadership Program
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Illinois State University
Doctoral Program from Educational Administration and Foundations
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