Come June 30, a fixture at Trinity High School will retire, and on July 1, a new leader will start her tenure at the River Forest institution.
Antoinette Bouillette, affectionately called “Dr. B” by everyone who knows her, will be leaving the River Forest school after serving as principal for seven years. The Oak Park resident has been in Catholic education at various levels for 36 years.
“I feel it is time; I just feel it,” she said. “I enjoyed every minute at Trinity.”
Her list of accomplishments encompass both the academic and community-building sides of Trinity.
After several years of work and spending tens of thousands to retool the building, the school implemented “Bring Your Own Devices,” to advance classroom instruction. The Health & Fitness Center opened in 2011. Bouillette hired almost half the school’s faculty.
To meet students, each month she hosted “Breakfast with Dr. B,” a 25 to 30-minute gathering before school. “They’d get food and a hug,” she said. She greets students and parents as carpools drive up.
Bouillette is proud of what she has contributed to Trinity. She is most proud of the girls. “They are concerned with one another and the world outside. They do a lot of community service work and care about people and relationships,” she said.
What does she plan to do after retirement? Bouillette wants to spend more time with her family and travel. She also wants to return to one of her first loves — the piano. She is looking at working on social justice issues as well, such as human trafficking, gun control and immigration reform, which are of concern to students and the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, who sponsor the school.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” she said.
Sister Michelle Germanson, president of Trinity, noted that Bouillette has been a wonderful principal who has made her mark on the school. “It’s always a time of angst when you let go of someone. She’s not just a good principal but a dear friend,” Germanson said.
The school will miss Dr. B. “Her commitment to Trinity and secondary Catholic education is exceptional. We are so happy she was with us. … She is amazingly nurturing,” said Walter Healy, chair of the Trinity board. “Trinity is a special place. … she’s a special person,” Healy said.
Her successor will be Noreen Powers, who while admitting she hasn’t had the same level of experience working with teenagers, nonetheless welcomes the challenges of leading Trinity.
Powers has a background of 17 years teaching at the university level and four years as an administrator for the Chicago Archdiocese. Officials with Trinity note she is familiar with what the school offers. Powers, they say, also has the commitment to improve and promote the importance and value of an all-girls education.
Powers said she comes into the job with a strong sense of the school: excellent academics with an emphasis on the International Baccalaureate program and use of technology.
And, of course, “I know they have a really good basketball team,” she said.
“Trinity has a strong staff with dedicated teachers. There are opportunities to grow as an administrator, and it will be challenging, but I know I will grow a ton and I welcome that,” she said.
Healy, who was on the search committee, was impressed with Powers’ ability to connect with people. He noted when she was on campus during her interview, Powers visited several classrooms and gave a succinct summary of each teacher, their strengths and weaknesses and how some of the challenges could be addressed.
“That resonated with the teachers,” he said. “She has energy, enthusiasm and the discipline. She will stick to the standards of the curriculum. She’s going to be a great fit for Trinity. We are thrilled to be able to hire her.”
Germanson noted that Powers was “spot on” in every important aspect of the school.
“I know she will take all that Dr. B and her predecessors have done and move it to the next level. She has the curriculum and instruction background to continue the tradition of solid academics. She has enthusiasm and a sense of vision,” she said.
