Urbana School District #116 (USD #116) has officially named Dr. Mitchell Berenson Urbana High School (UHS) Interim Principal during a special Board of Education meeting on Thursday, July 11.
Berenson will serve as the UHS Interim Principal for the 2019-2020 school year. He is no stranger to dynamic educational leadership, as 2019 marks his 23rd year in the field of education. Berenson graduated from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1995 with his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, then began his career as a social studies teacher, driver’s education teacher and guidance counselor for school districts in Illinois. Berenson then decided to pursue a career in administration and received his master’s degree in both school administration and counseling in 2016, and his doctorate in curriculum and instruction in 2017 from Northern Illinois University.
“I believe the field of education is the greatest profession to be involved in,” said incoming UHS Interim Principal Berenson. “In this field, you are always in a position to make a difference. I am excited to help the USD #116 staff and Urbana Community make a difference at Urbana High.”
For the last fifteen years, Berenson has successfully served as an administrative leader at five Illinois school districts. He has held the roles of director of guidance, assistant principal and director of pupil personnel services since beginning his career as an administrator. The incoming interim has also received an Educational Specialists Degree and a Superintendent’s Endorsement from Northern Illinois University. Berenson will be joining the Urbana family after his run as Director of Pupil Services at Roselle, Illinois’ Lake Park High School District 108.
“I feel confident that Dr. Berenson’s variety of job experiences and educational background has provided him with the skill set that we were looking for in the next principal to lead Urbana High School,” said Superintendent Ivory-Tatum.
Berenson is slated to begin his duties at UHS by the third week of July and will begin interviewing qualified candidates to serve as UHS Assistant Principal within the next two weeks. The District plans to share updates with parents through the Skylert school messenger, and with the Urbana Community through its website and social media platforms.