ROCHESTER, Ill. (WAND) - The Rochester Community Unit School District #3A is announcing a major leadership transition that will take effect at the start of the 2026–2027 school year, a move district leaders say will strengthen student learning and expand support for both staff and students.
In a letter sent to Rochester parents, students and staff, the school district announced that High School Principal Jeff Reed will retire at the end of the 2025–2026 school year. This retirement will mark the conclusion of his decades of service to Rochester students and families across various schools.
The district plans to announce opportunities to celebrate Reed’s contributions in the coming months.
Following his retirement announcement, the Board of Education and district administration reviewed the support structure for grades 7 through 12. As a result, the Board has approved a unified leadership model, combining the High School and Junior High Principal roles into a single position.
Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, David Hawkins will step into the newly combined role as Principal of Rochester High School and Rochester Junior High School.
Hawkins is well known to Rochester families, having previously served as Assistant Principal at the high school and currently as Junior High Principal.
According to the district, despite the leadership consolidation, daily programming and student routines will remain unchanged. Junior high students will continue learning in their current wing of the shared campus, and each school will maintain its own dedicated Assistant Principal to ensure day-to-day support.
The district will soon begin the search for a full-time Assistant Principal for Rochester Junior High.
Interim Superintendent Rolf Sivertsen thanked families for their continued support, noting the transition reflects the district’s commitment to collaboration, professional growth, and maintaining a “Tradition of Excellence.”
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