News Briefs: NT News will be digitized; NSSD 112 superintendent to retire in 2026; Regina students qualify for national history fair

Following a major gift and the advocacy of several New Trier High School alumni, The New Trier News will be digitized and made available online for all, the New Trier Educational Foundation recently announced.

Founded in 1919, The New Trier News was published weekly until 2020, when it was downsized to just four times during the school year.

Now in its 104th year of publication, the history of the award-winning student newspaper will be supported online. Through the years, the NT News has covered stories ranging from accidental lockdowns to the achievements of students and clubs to the continuing impact of COVID-19 on our community.

The NT News continues to provide local stories online to serve students as well as the greater New Trier community.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of students have participated in The New Trier News , some of whom have gone on to careers in news and media.

NSSD 112 superintendent to retire in 2026

Dr. Mike Lubelfeld, superintendent of North Shore School District 112, will retire effective June 30, 2026, which will end an eight-year tenure in which he led the district through the challenges of the ongoing pandemic.

Lubelfeld, who began his career in education as a teacher, was previously superintendent of Deerfield Public Schools District 109 and Pennoyer School District 79, and had served as principal at Elm Place Middle School and assistant superintendent for four years. He became superintendent in 2018.

“Serving our students, families, and staff members for the past six years as your superintendent has been an honor and a privilege,” Lubelfeld said. “It has been a humbling experience to lead this exceptional district where I first began a career in school administration. I plan to work diligently for the next two years, helping the board navigate a strategic planning process this fall that will incorporate community input and set up my successor and the district for a clear and coherent path forward.”

During his tenure in North Shore School District 112, Lubelfeld was responsible for overseeing the modernization of the district’s two middle schools, as well as the passage of a referendum to update five elementary schools.

The district received National Blue Ribbon Awards during Lubelfeld’s tenure, and North Shore School District 112 schools received High-Reliability School certification for all nine schools.

Lubelfeld also navigated the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the district through complicated health and safety protocol and enabling new learning procedures. Lubelfeld and the district also responded to support students and staffers In the aftermath of the Highland Park shooting in 2022.

“On behalf of the North Shore School District 112 Board of Education, I express our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Lubelfeld for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to our district,” Board of Education President Lisa Hirsh said in a statement. “During his tenure, he has expertly guided our district through extraordinary challenges to a path of significant growth and positive change across our schools. His tireless vision, passion, and focus on educational excellence have created an environment where students thrive, staff feel supported, and families are assured that their children receive a high-quality education.”

The North Shore School District 112 Board of Education will provide an update to the community in the coming weeks on the district’s superintendent succession plan.

Regina students qualify for national history fair

Regina Dominican students exhibited three projects in the Illinois State History Fair on April 24 in Springfield, and one of them was selected to advance to the national history fair in College Park, Maryland.

Sophomores Cora Frieswyk, Sofia Ujiki, Mara Swabb, Joy Marie Giyo and Marijana Tomasicyk qualified for the national event with their exhibit on the murder of Emmett Till.

The four students will participate in the National History Day on June 9-12 in Maryland. They will get the opportunity to explore Washington, D.C, and interact with 3,000 other students from around the U.S.

“These four panthers have worked incredibly hard on this exhibit over the last six months. Their dedication, and attention to detail was unmatched, making their success inevitable,” Regina Dominican history teacher Andy Michalek said in a press release. “The group utilized Regina Dominican legend Mike Small and his incredible knowledge regarding the Emmett Till case and also his Till family connections to further enrich their project.

“I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in Washington, D.C.”

Junior Vivienne Hartman also exhibited at the state meet, presenting a website on the flu pandemic of 1918.

Sophomore Cora Frieswyk entered the performance category, where she presented research on the Russian Revolution. This is the first time a non-AP U.S. History student has advanced to the state competition.

More than 10,000 students compete in the history fair and only a few hundred advance to state. And only two projects from each category are selected to represent Illinois in the national competition.

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