The Harvard Community Unit School District 50 Board of Education has approved the appointment of Jason Cummins as the district's director of teaching and learning – secondary, effective July 1, 2026. Cummins brings 23 years of experience in education to the role, including nearly a decade of assistant principal experience across multiple Illinois school districts.
"I am excited to partner with staff across grades 6–12 to strengthen instructional practices, expand equitable access and ensure students are prepared for success beyond high school," Cummins said. "I am especially excited to build alignment and support transitions between Jefferson Elementary, Harvard Junior High and Harvard High School."
Cummins spent the last five years as assistant principal for student services at Harvard High School. During that time, he led the development and implementation of the school's Flex Mod schedule, creating dedicated time for teacher collaboration through professional learning communities and building in structured opportunities for personalized learning and intervention. He also expanded student recognition efforts by aligning a monthly program with the district's Portrait of a Graduate framework and oversaw the school counseling program, modernizing practices, redesigning the Course Planning Handbook and implementing SchooLinks to better prepare students for college and career readiness.
Prior to Harvard High School, Cummins served as assistant principal for teaching and learning at West Leyden High School, where he partnered with Equal Opportunity Schools to expand access to advanced coursework by identifying and removing barriers for historically underserved students. That work included examining school policies through an equity lens and prioritizing culturally responsive teaching practices to ensure instruction reflects and affirms students' identities and experiences.
Earlier in his career, Cummins served as assistant principal at North Chicago High School and as assistant principal and athletic director at John T. Magee Middle School. He began his career as a Spanish teacher and coach at Dundee-Crown High School, where he coached basketball and tennis. He currently co-coaches the Prairie Ridge sixth-grade feeder basketball program.
Cummins holds an associate of science from McHenry County College, a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Northern Michigan University and a master's degree in educational leadership from Benedictine University. He also holds an ESL endorsement from Aurora University. He is an active member of the Illinois Principals Association and the National Association of Secondary School Principals and has presented on Harvard High School's Flex Mod schedule at the Large Unit District Association conference.