For Niles North High School principal, District 219 promotes from within

Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune
·2 min read

A 21-year veteran of Niles Township High School District 219 will be moving up to become principal of Niles North High School in Skokie.

The Board of Education unanimously approved Marlon Felton, the current assistant principal of operations at Niles North, as the school’s principal.

Dr. Roszena Haskins, the district’s deputy superintendent, presented Felton to the board at its May 7 meeting. “I’m just so thrilled to be in partnership with Marlon and see the great things that I know we will continue to see under his leadership,” she said.

Thomas Moore, the district’s superintendent, said while Felton was still a candidate for the job, “the biggest thing that came through, the final selling piece to me, is Marlon’s love for North. Marlon’s love for the kids. And I’ll say this: Marlon’s a good man, and I mean that as the highest of compliments. Marlon will not ask somebody to do something that he doesn’t do himself.”

Felton said, “I am extremely proud of our students and their families. I’m proud of myself and I am really excited to just continue to support our young adults in this new capacity.

“I’m extremely excited for the 2024-2025 school year. This is home to me, as Dr. Haskins mentioned. This is my 21st year (in the district) and I do feel like I have been welcomed and supported and just a part of the fabric of the community. I am proud to be the principal of Niles North High School.”

According to a news release from the district, Felton has a master’s degree in Education Leadership from Concordia University Chicago and a bachelor’s in Special Education from Northern Illinois University in Dekalb. He also served as a teacher, head coach and dean of students.

Moore announced the current principal, James Edwards, was set to leave the district at the end of the school year at the Board meeting in January. Felton’s appointment is the latest in the reshuffling of area high school principals, with Jeremy Christian beginning the 2023-2024 school year at Niles West High School as its principal and Dr. Antwan Babakhani transferring from Niles West High School to Maine South High School to start out the 2024-2025 school year as its principal.

Students from Niles, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove and Skokie attend District 219 high schools.