Naperville Central hired Andy Lutzekirchen as its new Physical Education, Drivers Education and Health Sciences department chair. Lutzenkirchen was most recently a P.E. teacher and formerly served as Central’s Athletic Director through June 2021.
The position was most recently filled by current P.E. teacher Neil Duncan, who stepped down from the position after holding it since 2010.
“I’m excited that the year has started off,” Lutzekirchen said. “I feel really excited not just about P.E. but about the school in general. I feel a positive vibe.”
While in the hiring process, Central’s administration met with members of the P.E. department to identify characteristics they thought important in their next department chair, according to Principal Jackie Thornton.
“We really were trying to tease out knowledge of best practices in the department,” Thornton said. “ Can this candidate be an instructional leader? With all of those considerations, we felt like [Lutzkerkin] was best positioned [for the job].”
After stepping down from the position of Athletic Director, Lutzenkirchen spent a year as a P.E. teacher at Lincoln Junior High School before returning to Central as a P.E. teacher.
Prior to his employment in District 203, Lutzenkirchen started his career at East Aurora High School, before eventually moving on to become the Assistant Athletic Director—and later Athletic Director—at West Aurora High School. In 2012, Lutzenkirchen became the Central’s Athletic Director.
Lutzenkirchen steps into his position with four new hires in the P.E. department, and one retirement on the horizon at the end of the year.
“[Lutzenkirchen] has a leadership and personality style that is very funny, but he’s steady,” Thornton said. “I’m very excited about this year and the future of P.E., and that’s not just because of [Lutzenkirchen.]”
