District 96 names next school superintendent
After an intense four-month superintendent search, the Kildeer Countryside School District 96 board of education has named its next superintendent of schools - a District 96 administrator with 13 years of experience helping to design and support student learning throughout the district.
At a recent meeting, the Kildeer Countryside School District board of education named Kathryn Sheridan, the district's director of Language and Early Literacy and a former middle school assistant principal and elementary school principal, as its next superintendent.
Sheridan assumes the superintendency position on July 1, 2022, from current superintendent Julie Schmidt, who announced her plans to retire.
Board of education President Marc Tepper emphasized that Sheridan's experience in the district is expansive. She directs and facilitates elementary literacy and leads literacy and language development coaches across the district, all critical to maintaining student achievement in the 97th to 99th percentile in Illinois.
She also mentors new principals and assistant principals and is the architect of the district's two-way immersion dual language program in Spanish.
She coordinates the Guiding Coalition of Interculturalism, and last month presented at the IASB/IASA/IASBO Joint Annual Conference on the district's efforts to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
"Mrs. Sheridan follows a long line of very successful superintendents, including Mrs. Julie Schmidt, who has guided the district since 2009 to remarkable achievements," Tepper said.
"After an extensive search, the board unanimously supports the appointment of Mrs. Sheridan to continue the strides that the district has made. Mrs. Sheridan embodies the passion for educating our students, which is foremost in what we look for in a great leader. As we hold true to our mission, vision, and values, the board is confident that Mrs. Sheridan is the right person to lead our district forward."
Sheridan earned an Education Specialist degree in educational leadership and organizational change, with superintendent endorsement from Roosevelt University, College of Education, Chicago; a Masters of Education in administrative leadership from National Louis University, College of Education, Chicago; and an elementary education teaching certificate (grades K-nine), with Spanish minor and middle school endorsements in Spanish, language arts and social sciences, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Sheridan is also a co-author of "Reading and Writing Instruction for Second and Third Grade in a PLC at Work."
"I am humbled and honored to be chosen to serve as the next Kildeer Countryside School District 96 superintendent. I am deeply grateful to the board of education for the opportunity to lead our district on behalf of our students," Sheridan said.
"My passion for this district has never wavered as we maintain a student-centered focus in partnership with families and the community. I look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence while innovating and enhancing the educational experience we provide for our students in tandem with this talented staff and our families."
Sheridan and her husband are parents to four children ages 2 to 7.
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