Highland Elementary

Welcome to Highland School! 

It is truly an honor to be the principal of Highland School.  In my opinion, being a principal is the best work there is because of the exciting work with teachers, children, and parents each and every day--and there is no better place to do these things than at Highland! This community has a strong reputation of celebrating diversity and working together to grow children into productive citizens, prepared for all of the challenges of life. I am inspired daily by the way we grow as a community, building on past successes and brainstorming together to problem solve as new situations arise. We are successful because of the contributions of all. 

My work as a school leader is guided by a few core beliefs:

• Every Voice Matters. Every student, parent, and staff member is a vital part of our community. We all have something to add as a result of the unique experiences and perspectives each of us has had.
• Nurturing Curiosity. School should be a place where children are allowed to be children, to be their own creative and wondering selves, and to ask questions without fear. The uniqueness of each child is to be celebrated.  
• Respectful Collaboration. We will not always agree, but we must be committed to always listening and respecting one another. By focusing on our shared goal—the success and well-being of our children—we can navigate all challenges productively.

I did not set out in my life to be an educator. I thought I was going to be a scientist! I have a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of New Hampshire, which is where I spent most of my childhood. After college, I needed an adventure before becoming a grown up, so I joined the Peace Corps and spent over two years living in a mud hut in the remote bush of Kenya, teaching science to high school students. This experience was truly a turning point in my life, not only because I learned that I am, in fact, a teacher, but also because so many other life lessons were learned. After finishing my tour with the Peace Corps, I moved to Taiwan where I taught English as a Second Language for a while to children as young as four on up to corporate executives.

I came home to the United States to work on my Masters in Education at DePaul University, here in Chicago. I taught second and third grades on the west side of Chicago at DR Cameron School and then fourth and fifth grades at the Ogden School on the Gold Coast. I have been an administrator at Ogden School (Assistant Principal), Field School in Rogers Park (Assistant Principal and then Principal) and Dawes School (Principal) in Evanston before coming to Skokie School District 68 and Highland School.I could never say enough wonderful things about the hundreds of kids, families and teachers I had the pleasure of working with and who truly changed my life. I can only hope I gave them half as much as they gave me. I do know that along the way, we’ve also had a lot of fun—because school should be fun!

In my free time, I love to do anything outdoors, whether it is hot or cold out. I like to ride my bike, hike, ski, snowshoe, sail, canoe, jump in the lake, etc. I love to travel and learn about how other people live. If I have to stay indoors, I love to read. I go to a yoga class frequently to get a good stretch. 

Your partnership is essential to our success. I welcome your ideas, questions, and feedback about how our school runs and grows. Please feel free to email me or call me at 847-676-5001. I am here to serve you and your children.

It is truly my pleasure to be your principal.

Karen Bradley, Ed.D.