Welcome Back Momence Family!
Hello and welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! I am thrilled to begin my second year as your principal and am excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
A little bit about myself: I began my teaching career at Simmons Middle School in Oak Lawn, where I taught 7th-grade computers. After a year, I embarked on a unique journey to Kotzebue, Alaska, where I taught social sciences to the Native Alaskans in the bush. My dedication to education led me to spend four years in Alaska, and in my fifth year, I was entrusted by my superintendent to open and principal a small school of 50 students in Kobuk, Alaska. After a year in Kobuk, family concerns brought me back to the Chicagoland area, where I took a position teaching 8th-grade history at Richland School in Crest Hill. Over my eight years of teaching, I have also served as a varsity basketball coach, a middle school basketball coach, a football coach, a bowling coach, a golf coach, and a student government and council sponsor.
I spent six years as the associate principal and then principal at Momence Junior High. I became the Momence High School Principal in 2022-2023. I enjoy the challenges that the high school setting brings and I am also proud to have the opportunity to serve our students throughout so much of their time at Momence.
As your Principal for the second consecutive year, my goal is to foster a positive, student-centered, and data-driven environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to stop by anytime – my door is always open.
I am extremely pleased to continue this journey with you all and am excited to grow, learn, work, engage, and teach with the outstanding community here at Momence High School. Here's to another successful and fulfilling school year!
Sincerely,
Mr. Jack Richards