Pictured here with his family is Justin Horne, the new K-8 principal at Timothy Christian Schools. With him are his wife Becky and their children Nathaniel, 11, and Catherine, 7. Horne will start work at Timothy this summer.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
Timothy Christian Schools has had a grand total of 22 principals at the K-8 level since the school first opened its doors in 1911. And only six have led those efforts since the elementary school building was dedicated in Elmhurst in 1972.
Justin Horne is now part of that elite fraternity.
Timothy Christian recently announced Horne’s hiring for the 2020-21 school year. He replaces Dr. Tim Hoeksema, who will retire after a distinguished career in June.
Horne is currently the principal at Monroe Elementary School in Hinsdale, operating under District 181 auspices. Monroe is both a Blue Ribbon and Green Ribbon school.
“We were incredibly impressed with a very strong pool of candidates, and yet the search committee and the school board were both unanimous in hiring Justin,” Timothy Christian Superintendent Matt Davidson said. “He is an educational leader and influencer. Justin has a throwback work ethic, he loves kids and he loves Jesus.”
Horne double majored in elementary education and psychology at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and then received his master’s of education in administration at Loyola University.
He also holds the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification, the highest certification a teacher can hold.
“His experience, vision and ‘sense of adventure’ in trying new ideas would give an opportunity for the faculty and students to really feel folded into the greater Timothy community in a meaningful way,” said Timothy middle school science teacher Heather Hopek, who served on the search committee for Hoeksema’s replacement.
Lynn Van Stee, Timothy’s director of MTSS, was most encouraged by Horne’s ideas and his hard work toward building community and supporting teachers.
“He gave a lot of evidence of being a strong communicator, competent educator and a collaborative leader,” said Van Stee, also part of the search committee.
Davidson called Horne an educational leader, influencer and force. “Justin builds trust and moves people through developing authentic relationships,” he said. “He believes in the value of h
