Future District 300 chief Bregy already earning high marks

A school superintendent has to take on many roles: negotiator, instructional leader and government liaison.

According to everyone from students who worked closely with him at Jacobs High School to principals who helped shape curriculum and programs while serving with him on committees, Michael Bregy is well equipped to step into all of those roles.

Bregy, 44, of Algonquin, principal of Jacobs, was named Community Unit District 300's next superintendent on Thursday. Bregy will replace Ken Arndt when Arndt retires at the end of the 2010-11 school year.

While Bregy has been many things to many people during his nine years in District 300, district employees, students and parents consistently praised Bregy's communication skills.

"He's one of the principals who can walk down the hallway and say 'hi' to 80 percent of all students there and know their first names," said Taylor Sinople, a senior at Jacobs.

Bregy's ability to communicate well will perhaps be most crucial in his dealings with parents.

"He has an ease about him that makes anybody feel comfortable even if you're going to talk to him about an uncomfortable situation," said Karen Castillo, a mother of two students at Jacobs.

Bregy's fellow principals said his reputation as a hands-on manager who likes to spend time in the classroom will help him build good relationships with teachers when he becomes superintendent.

"It's so good to know that when he goes in and talks with the teaching staff, they're going to say, 'Yeah, I know that guy. This guy's always in my classroom. He knows what good instruction is and what it isn't - because he's done it before,' " Hampshire High School Principal Chuck Bumbales said.

Bregy's background as a teacher at the elementary, middle and high school level may also help him relate to teachers during tense union negotiations.

"He knows what it's like to be an elementary teacher, a middle school teacher, a high school teacher, so I do think that does bring an important perspective," said Kolleen Hanetho, president of District 300's teachers union.

At the same time, many cited Bregy's support for sports and other after-school activities as a sign that he values the entire school experience.

"I always judge an administrator by attendance, and he's always at his games," said Dick Storm, athletic director at Dundee-Crown High School. "That tells me that he's a big supporter of athletics and extracurriculars."

Many said Bregy's willingness to try new things has paid dividends at Jacobs and that he would bring that same alacrity to his new job.

"I think that any leader has to be willing to try to take risks to try to take the district to the next level," Westfield Community School Principal Bill Doran said. "I have seen a lot of positive changes at Jacobs, and I have no reason to doubt he would carry that forward-thinking to the district at large."

Students at Jacobs might be the most excited about Bregy's promotion.

"He was a great principal," said Preksha Maiya, a senior at Jacobs. "I can only imagine what he'll do as superintendent."