At the start of the 2025-26 school year, Sean Williams assumed the role of Dean of Student Activities following the retirement of Jennifer Baumgartner.
Williams first started working at North in the fall of 2012 as an English teacher. He continued in this department until 2022, when he then shifted towards being a Dean of Students. Both the Deans of Students and the Dean of Student Activities have differing responsibilities with students, as Williams explained.
“[Deans of Students are] in charge of everyday things, like from lunchroom supervision to detention to Saturday schools… then Dean of Student Activities is in charge of 110 clubs, and about 75 to 80 sponsors,” Williams said.
As Dean, Williams is responsible for pre-existing clubs, reviewing interest in creating new clubs, working with sponsors to run activities as smoothly as possible, and helping to manage school assemblies. Facilitating events and activities around the building and in the NNHS community is a huge responsibility for Williams, but when asked about his main goal in the position, he focused on the students.
“That’s my goal… [creating] and [fostering] a sense of belonging with all students,” Williams said.
Williams then explained how connections at North are not just made through clubs or sports. The friendships made at a lunch table, playing morning basketball, or in a classroom have an equal impact as those made through activities, and Williams hopes to foster each of those connections. Naperville North sophomore Everleigh Irwin describes the impact Williams has on her as a student.
“[Williams] is an excellent Activities Director… he seems very involved, constantly at play performances or show choir, and as a student in those activities it feels great to see him at those performances,” Irwin said.
