Kane County regional education superintendent to retire

After a long battle to restore funding for the salaries of Regional Office of Education superintendents, Kane County's Doug Johnson has announced his retirement.

Johnson worked for several months with no salary as state funding for his position was in limbo. However, Johnson didn't credit that frustration for his decision to retire. He said it's just time.

“I've devoted my life to educating kids,” Johnson said. “I've made promises to my wife that when we retire we'll do this and that. And I've missed a bullet a couple times thanks to modern medicine. I really do believe we have the greatest regional office in the state of Illinois. But it's time.”

Johnson has worked in the regional office since 1995. He began his teaching career in 1979 in downstate Blandinsville and spent most of his teaching career in Aptikisic-Tripp District 102 in Buffalo Grove. He also was an elementary and high school principal in Fox River Grove and an elementary principal in Aurora. He became regional superintendent in 2007.

Johnson informed Kane County Board members and Chairman Karen McConnaughay of his retirement plans late last week. It will be effective March 1. That means McConnaughay and the board must appoint an interim superintendent until a full-fledged replacement can take over via the November general election.

Johnson recommended that his longtime assistant superintendent, Harrison Schneider, receive the interim appointment. McConnaughay and the board will debate that recommendation and any other possible candidates before making the appointment when Johnson steps down.

Local Republican and Democratic parties also will look to potential candidates to run for the slot. Johnson ran as an unopposed Republican during his last re-election bid in 2010.

Board members thanked Johnson for his service.

“Thank you for your passion for kids,” said board member Tom Van Cleave. “You, like everyone in your office, it's not a job for you; it's a real passion for kids and education. A paycheck is secondary to making an everyday difference in peoples' lives.”