A Proviso Township native is heading back to his hometown to become a principal in his childhood school district. Raymond Moland, a longtime educator who grew up in Bellwood and is a product of Bellwood School District 88, was recently named principal of McKinley Elementary School.
Moland spent almost a decade at Fenwick High School in Oak Park holding multiple administrative roles. He said his return to Bellwood and District 88 is a homecoming of sorts. While Moland attended Lincoln Elementary School as child, he told Wednesday Journal over social media that he landed his first teaching position at McKinley after graduating from college.
“I taught sixth grade there for three years,” he said via Twitter. “It is always a pleasure when my career and Bellwood come together. This principal position is such a blessing and a ‘full circle’ event in my life.”
At Fenwick, Moland’s other alma mater, he served as senior dean of students, chaired the health and physical education departments and became the first diversity, equity and inclusion director and spearheaded a leadership team.
Early last month, Moland took to Twitter to publicly share the news of his latest role at D88.
“I am happy to finally announce that I am officially the Board approved, [sic] new Principal of McKinley Elementary School,” he tweeted. “I am humbled and excited to offer myself to my hometown and childhood school district.”
