Ask Principal Dan Landry how he feels about being named the IAHPERD 2025 Administrator of the Year, and he’ll humbly try to brush the achievement aside. Yet, spend just a few minutes speaking with him, and you will quickly understand why students and staff alike hold him in such consistently high regard.
In honor of Principal Appreciation Week, we caught up with Mr. Landry for a more personal conversation, one that highlighted not just his leadership but his humanity. Read about his recent award recognition here.
A middle child of 11, Landry credits his upbringing with shaping his collaborative, people-first approach. “Being number six in a big family, you learn how to navigate personalities and find a path that works for everyone,” he said. “It definitely shows up in how I lead.”
When asked about his go-to school day lunch, he smiled: “Turkey sandwich. Pretty plain.” A fitting response from someone who prefers to shine the spotlight on others rather than himself.
His office offers quiet reminders of where he’s been and the impact he’s had. Vintage Star Wars figurines, hand-me-downs from his childhood, share shelf space with 3D-printed airplanes gifted by students. “They ground me,” he said. “They remind me I’m making a difference, even on the hard days.”
At the heart of Landry’s leadership is deep care for students, staff, and the community. One of his proudest traditions is Central’s annual Veterans Day celebration, where students host and honor military members with heartfelt tributes and a community breakfast. “It’s meaningful. It’s connection. It’s what school should be,” he shared.
When asked what he hopes to be remembered for, he simply said, “That I care. We made changes because we believed they would help our kids and our teachers. That’s the core of everything we do.”
Principal Landry encourages students to take risks, try new things, and learn from failure. “If it’s easy, it’s not always as fun,” he said. “Sometimes the most meaningful experiences come from the things you work hardest for.”
And his advice to his principal-self, straight from his coaching days? “Keep fighting for what you believe in.”
It’s clear that’s exactly what he’s done, and continues to do, for the Grayslake Central community.