Dr. Craig Winkelman

2020 Distinguished Alumni Awards Honoree
Dr. Craig Winkelman
Assistant Superintendent, K-12 Schools and Operations, Barrington School District 220

To countless families in the Barrington area, Dr. Craig Winkelman is an exceptional educator whose invaluable guidance helps children to soar.

Winkelman serves as assistant superintendent of operations and K-12 schools for Barrington School District 220, responsible for supervising and evaluating principals, overseeing operations, tracking policy updates, and leading safety and security efforts, strategic planning, and numerous other efforts throughout the district.

Previously, Winkelman spent more than a decade as principal of Barrington Middle School Station Campus. He also held roles in Palatine-based Community Consolidated School District 15 and Fremont School District 79 in Mundelein, starting his career as a special education teacher.

Winkelman, of Tower Lakes, said Harper College was the right choice for him. Tuition was affordable, which was an important consideration for the then-18-year-old, and he knew all his credits would transfer without the need for taking duplicate courses.

“And, of course, the quality of education I received really helped set me on (the right) path,” he said, highlighting that Harper had a reputation of having outstanding faculty and rigorous coursework.

After earning his Associate of Arts degree from Harper, Winkelman went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Illinois State University, Master of Science in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University, and Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from National Louis University.

Winkelman has given back to the community through his leadership. He led the initiative to integrate a two-way radio system throughout District 220 with multiple police departments, sheriff’s office and 911 dispatch centers. He serves as a member of Barrington Rotary Club and through Rotary helped partner with Lions Club to stock classrooms with “stop the bleed” emergency kits. He is a member of American Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Administrators.

Harper, he said, was instrumental in laying the foundation for his career. It taught him time management, life skills and how to be independent.

“It was a really good option for me,” Winkelman said. “It worked well for me to have that two years of adjustment without being completely on my own and out of the house and adapting to that new independence. It was an important part of my growing up.”