Glenbrook High School District #225 Board of Education approved the hiring of Jason Markey, current principal of East Leyden High School, on March 16. Markey will start as principal on July 1. 

“I was looking, in all honesty, just for a place to start fresh and start new and get to know a new community, and I wanted to be really excited about the community,” said Markey in a phone interview. “And, Glenbrook North is the perfect fit.”

Since his hire, he has been able to interact with members of GBN such as teachers and administrators via Zoom and Google Hangouts Meet, Markey said. Markey has been kept in the loop regarding how the district has been handling the current situation and will participate in conversations regarding COVID-19’s impact on school once he officially begins working in July.

The quality that excites Markey most about GBN is the large variety of activities, academics and sports offered to students, he said. 

“It’s not just simply that we have all of those [offerings] at GBN, it’s that there’s truly excellent student leadership and staff leadership in all of those different areas,” Markey said. 

By learning from current GBN principal John Finan’s “wealth of knowledge,” Markey said he has gained insight into the community.

“We talk regularly, so each time we talk I ask a couple of questions, he shares a few things, so I can continue to build that knowledge base so I’m really prepared to serve the community,” Markey said. 

Markey began his career in education teaching social studies at Iowa City High School from 2001 to 2003 and at East Leyden from 2003 to 2008. Markey then worked as Woodstock High School’s assistant principal from 2008 to 2010. Following his time at Woodstock, Markey returned to East Leyden serving as assistant principal from 2010 to 2012, ultimately becoming principal of East Leyden in 2012. 

According to Markey, he will work to listen to the needs of the GBN community and hopes people find him welcoming and engaging.

“I really look forward to meeting as many students and staff as possible and really getting to know what they’re excited about, what they’re passionate about, and how I can best serve them as principal,” Markey said.