Longtime Galena principal nabs award

Nearly two decades ago, Ben Soat was in his 10th year as a math teacher at Galena High School when the school district’s superintendent asked if he would consider becoming principal of the middle school. Now in his 19th year as the school’s principal, Ben Soat recently was named the 2023 Middle School Principal of the Year for the Northwest Region through Illinois Principals Association. Galena Superintendent Tim Vincent, who was part of the team that nominated Soat for the award, said Soat has created a caring, supportive culture at the middle school.