Retiring Dean of Student Activities Jennifer Baumgartner soaks up her final days in student activities. Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Baumgartner

Each May, Naperville North loses a senior class; hundreds of students who were an integral part of the Huskie community graduate, and the school moves on to a new year. The end of the 2024-2025 school year comes with an especially big loss for North as Jennifer Baumgartner, Dean of Student Activities, retires after 37 years in education. 

She has been a friend and mentor to thousands of students. Her compassion and joy brightened the school, and she has left a permanent mark on school spirit and what it means to be a Huskie. 

Jennifer Baumgartner grew up in Ottawa, Illinois, where she participated in dance throughout high school, traveling across the state and competing. Baumgartner said that her first memories of Naperville North came from these competitions, as she remembered watching the dance team compete. 

“The starlets were the team to come out on the floor, and then [I would think] ‘I want to live in Naperville,’” Baumgartner said.

She continued to pursue dance throughout high school and went on to attend Eastern Illinois University, where she majored in physical education and minored in health and dance. When she first entered college, she believed that she would pursue dance throughout college but was advised to pick up her teaching degree by an advisor.

“That was the best, best decision I ever made,” she said.

Still, Baumgartner didn’t aspire to teach as a career; she expected to work in corporate fitness but changed her mind when she student-taught at North to finish her teaching degree. Baumgartner then worked at Woodridge Middle School for three years before working at North again in 1992 as a substitute. Baumgartner was soon hired as a permanent Health and PE teacher, eventually assuming her current role as Dean of Student Activities in 1998. 

As Dean, Baumgartner has helped shape the Huskie community through all of her work in clubs and activities and has been an incredible example of what Naperville North stands for. When asked about some of her proudest accomplishments at North, she responded with many, but one of the most unexpected challenges she had to overcome was COVID-19. 

“I’m so proud of what [North] did during [the pandemic] … because [the school] came together as a family,” she said.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit North hard. Many of the traditions and events that regularly occurred at the school were not possible, so Baumgartner made it her mission to protect them. North hosted a movie musical, an Airband was held in the bus lot, and concerts took place outdoors. When the world opened back up, student energy was severely lacking, so Baumgartner helped create the ‘Driven’ catchphrase that we have now. Director of Fine Arts at Naperville North, Nicholas Janssen, shared how he believes being driven has helped North. 

“Even though, you know, any type of cliche word feels silly and people kind of laugh about it… No one can leave Naperville North and not know what it means to be driven,” he said.

“Driven” is not the only impact Baumgartner will have on North; dozens of clubs, activities and departments have also been impacted by her. Janssen has had personal experience working with Baumgartner, as he was hired 15 years ago by her to strengthen the Fine Arts department. Throughout his career at NNHS, Janssen believes Baumgartner has been a constant help and advocate for the arts.

“She has bent over backwards to find ways to help make it happen… being relentless about what we need and what the kids in fine arts still need to advance the program,” he said. 

The people who fuel activities at North are students, and Baumgartner consistently works so that each students feels represented and understood; during passing periods she can be seen chatting with students, during the day her office is always available, and if students have a question about activities they can always set up a meeting with her. Class of 2025 Senior, Matthew Lipien, believes that Baumgartner has not only supported him through extracurriculars, but she has also created an environment where he is free to grow as a person.

“She’s allowed me to kind of express myself in so many different opportunities,” Lipien said. “I love that she has always had a passion for me to get out and really get involved in the community.”

Her advocacy for students helps them grow real-world skills that can be utilized for the rest of their lives. The attitude that Baumgarner possesses also uplifts the school; she acts as a role model for every student. One of the first things that Kris Karciauskas, a member of the class of 2026, noticed about Mrs. Baumgartner was how she approached every student.

“She has an amazing attitude,” he said. “She’s a really positive person.”

Dean Sean Williams will assume her role as Activities Dean next year. When asked about what she was going to miss most about the school, Baumgartner immediately responded.

“The kids,” she said.