Azaa Battsogt

Dan Debryucker works hard as he finishes his second to last semester working as the principal for Metea Valley.

Current Metea Principal Daniel DeBruycker is set to transfer schools at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. DeBruycker has been Metea’s principal since 2023 and plans to finish the current school year before transferring.

“I’ll be the principal at Crystal Lake South starting July 1,” DeBruycker said. “[And] I’ll be the principal here at Metea all the way through June 30.”

DeBruycker explained he was not looking for a job, but the move appeared to be what was best for his family. Before becoming principal of Metea, DeBruycker used to teach at Crystal Lake South High School. Going back to where he started seemed like a rewarding move. 

“I understand the systems, I know the staff, I know the administrative team, and after a lot of thought [and] reflection [from my] family, I would have regretted not having conversations about it,” DeBruycker said.

DeBruycker, however, is not alone in running Metea. He is supported by a wide range of staff and administration, including the vice principals. Vice Principal Rodney Jones talks about how well DeBruycker and the vice principals work as a team, as well as how the current vice principals will embrace the new principal when that individual is announced.

“We work as a team to kind of walk them through what things look like now, and typically, a new principal has kind of their own vision of some things,” Jones said. “We kind of work to…mend those together.”

The new principal has not been announced yet. The administration and staff at Metea do not know who it will be, but are hoping to announce that sometime this winter, following an interview process after winter break. 

“[Administration] will do the interviews in January, and their goal is to name the new person in their February Board meeting,” DeBruycker said.

Jones says that while the administrative team is excited to welcome a new member, they will continue to work hard with DeBruycker and make the most of the time he has left before transferring. 

“We worked well as a team and did a lot of good work here, and we wish him all the best in his new role,” Jones said. “But, you know, he’s still with us for another semester, so we’re going to work and do great things while he’s still here as well.”