Fenwick Names New Principal

After a thorough process to identify and select a new principal, Fenwick High School announced today the school's new academic leader, Mr. Mark Rasar, who will assume his position on July 1, 2023. Rasar has nearly a decade of educational leadership experience, coupled with previous time spent as a teacher, department chair, and coach.

In his past administrative roles, Rasar oversaw curriculum development, capital building projects, and professional growth of faculty and staff members. He holds degrees from Southern Illinois University  at Carbondale and North Park University and is an active member of the Illinois Principal Association and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). In 2022, the Illinois Principals Association named Rasar as the North Cook Region-Middle School Principal of the Year award recipient.

"Mark's wealth of administrative experience and academic expertise, proven leadership ability, fresh perspective, and focus on enhancing and growing the premier college preparatory school in the Chicago Catholic League make him the ideal choice. I look forward to partnering with him to ensure even greater success and excellence for our school," said the school's president, Fr. Richard Peddicord, O.P.

Since 2019, Rasar has been the Principal at Holmes Junior High School in Mount Prospect. Previously, he served in additional administrative positions, including Associate Principal for H.D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin and Principal at Lincoln Junior High School in Skokie.

Commenting on his appointment, Mark Rasar said "I am humbled and grateful to serve as the new Fenwick High School principal. Our Dominican Catholic values have guided the school for almost a century, and I am honored to be able to further cultivate our virtues by providing a world-class education for our students. With the Centennial Campaign underway and the purchase of the Priory Campus in River Forest, Fenwick is poised to provide a Catholic educational opportunity that will prepare our students for the future while ensuring our faith remains strong. I look forward to working with our Friar Nation to carry out our mission to inspire excellence and educate each student to lead, achieve, and serve."

Fenwick High School formed a Search Committee in September 2022 to lead this search and engaged Partners In Mission, the nation's leading full-service consulting firm focused exclusively on developing excellence in Catholic school advancement and leadership, to assist with the search process.