MY WHY - Benjamin Neidich, Principal at Holmes

A quote from Confucius reads: “Study the past if you would define the future.” No one embodies that more than the principal of Holmes Middle School, Benjamin Neidich. Benjamin, who studied history at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, originally had a different idea in mind when he thought of his future. Beginning college with a career in sports management in mind, and then one in medicine, Benjamin took the long way around to his true passion: history.

One class in, he switched his major and never looked back.

What started as an academic interest eventually turned into his calling. He decided to use his degree to become a teacher. After graduating, he began his career as a history teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. For nine years, Benjamin spent his time in the classroom helping students connect with the past in meaningful ways. He taught his students that history wasn’t just about dates and documents. It was about perspective, empathy, and understanding systems. Those lessons shaped his approach to education. He wanted students to see themselves as part of a larger story, capable of shaping their own futures. Over time, his leadership skills emerged naturally, leading him to a role as a Dean of Students in Lake Forest, and eventually as an Assistant Principal at Whittier Elementary in Waukegan. 

Today, in his first year as Principal of Holmes Middle School—his first role within District 21—Benjamin relies on his teaching experience and his knowledge of the past to lead with excellence. He understands what history has taught him about great leaders: that their impact is better felt than heard. So much of his work happens behind the scenes, like supporting teachers, solving problems, coordinating resources, and building systems that allow students to succeed. When those things run smoothly, no one notices. He considers that a success. Like a well-functioning society, a school thrives when its structures quietly support the people within it.

Another measure of his success as an educator comes from the success of his students. Benjamin believes in the importance of his work, and in the ripples created by his efforts, when he sees his students succeed. In one of his more meaningful moments as an educator, he had the opportunity to hire two of his former students. Now, he gets to work alongside them and is reminded of his own tangible impact when he sees them thrive as adults. It reinforces his belief that education is generational work. The students in his building today are tomorrow’s leaders, professionals, and community members.

Being a principal may be the culmination of an educator’s career, but Benjamin is nowhere near finished. He chose to come to District 21 because he recognized the need for someone who understood the “from the ground up” approach with students. He strives to help make education more equitable and accessible for his students by recognizing the marginalized communities within the district. His goal here: “to set kids up to be excellent, to not settle, if they don’t want to.”

Outside of school, you can find Benjamin cooking and exploring new restaurants, as turning regular meals into opportunities to spend cherished quality time with his family is his favorite pastime. A lifelong sports fan, he still follows University of Illinois football and basketball closely. Most importantly, he is a devoted father to his two daughters, supporting their activities and celebrating their milestones, and shares his life with his wife, a fellow educator. His daughters, near the same age as his students, remind him every day why his work is so crucial.

From his days of learning history within the walls of the University of Illinois, to today, where he is helping to write it with the students who walk the halls of Holmes Middle School, Benjamin Neidich leads with a quiet, steady purpose, one day (or one page in your history book) at a time.