Dr. Will Dwyer, principal of West Chicago Community High School for the past six years, has announced his resignation and will take on the same role at Deerfield High School next year. Dwyer sent out an email at 3:00 p.m. at the end of the school day, reflecting on his time at WEGO and sharing his gratitude with the community.

“It has been an honor to serve as your principal for the past six years. The support and love I’ve received from the entire WeGo community has been overwhelming during my time here,” Dwyer said in the email.

Dwyer began his tenure at WEGO in the 2019-2020 school year, contributing to initiatives such as the creation of DEN classes and the 90-10 grade scale, which weighs assessments as 90% of a student’s grade, with classwork accounting for the remaining 10%.

He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate from three different universities in Illinois. During his time as principal, Dwyer also led the school through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was just really proud of the entire school because I think going through it was difficult for everybody regardless,” Dwyer said during an in-person interview, recalling the resilience of students and staff.

Dwyer is known for his energetic and welcoming presence at WEGO, often greeting students and staff near Entrance B in the mornings.

“I think he’s brought a lot of energy to our school, and I hope that whoever they find to fill his shoes can keep that level of energy up,” AP Human Geography teacher Maggie Haas said.

Many students appreciated his approachable nature and ability to make personal connections.

“He’s really nice. When you have a principal who pops his head around and remembers your name, it’s nice,” senior Ella Warsaw said.

With Dwyer’s departure, WEGO will begin the search for a new principal to fill the vacancy. Reflecting on his time at WEGO, he expressed his hope of leaving a lasting impact.

“I hope that I helped us get through some big challenges and not just survive but thrive… I’m always going to have a big soft spot in my heart for the school,” Dwyer said. “Go Wildcats.”