Frank Holthouse Named Administrator of the Year

For more than two decades, Frank Holthouse has helped Leyden students see what is possible when education connects directly to the world beyond the classroom. Now, his leadership and commitment to career and technology education are being recognized at the state level.
Holthouse, Leyden’s Director of Careers, has been selected as the Administrator of the Year by the Technology Education Association of Illinois (TEAI). The award recognizes an outstanding administrator who has demonstrated years of service and leadership in technology education through professional contributions, presentations and leadership at the local, state and national levels.

“I am truly honored to receive this recognition, especially knowing it comes from an organization that is so committed to technology and career education,” said Holthouse. I love what I do, and the most rewarding part of my work is seeing students discover their strengths, find a path that excites them and ultimately succeed. When you get to be part of those moments, it makes everything you do worthwhile.”

For Holthouse, however, the recognition is about much more than a title. His work at Leyden has centered on creating meaningful opportunities for students to explore careers, develop real-world skills and connect what they learn in school to their futures.

“Frank has an extraordinary ability to see possibilities for students and then find ways to turn those possibilities into opportunities,” said Superintendent Nick Polyak. “He brings tremendous knowledge and experience to his work, but what stands out most is the way he genuinely cares about kids. Frank is the kind of person who will go the extra mile - not because it is part of his job description, but because he believes every student deserves the chance to discover what they can do.”

In his role at Leyden, Holthouse works to build connections among students, educators, businesses and community partners, helping students gain exposure to careers and experiences they may not otherwise encounter. His work reflects a broader commitment to preparing students not only for graduation, but for the many different paths they may take afterward.

That commitment has made Holthouse a familiar and trusted presence throughout the Leyden community. Whether he is helping develop a new career opportunity, connecting a student with an industry professional, working with a business partner or simply encouraging a student to consider a possibility they had not imagined for themselves, his focus remains the same: helping students find their path.

The TEAI award recognizes precisely that kind of leadership. Each year, the organization honors individuals and programs that make significant contributions to technology education throughout Illinois. Holthouse will be formally recognized during the Illinois Technology Education Conference, October 23 - 24 at Illinois State University.