Oak Grove Dist. 68 hires superintendent from Quincy
Oak Grove Elementary District 68 has turned to Quincy for its newest superintendent.
Board members this week hired Lonny Lemon to replace Janice Matthews, who’s departing for another job. Lemon is completing his fourth year as superintendent at Quincy Public School District 172 and will start in Oak Grove on July 1.
Lemon is leading a district with more than 7,200 students and 1,300 employees. Oak Grove is a single-school, K-8 district with about 875 pupils.
Oak Grove hired a search firm that initially identified 33 superintendent candidates from eight states. Lemon was among six finalists presented to the Oak Grove school board in April.
Board President Jennifer Manski said in a statement Friday that officials are excited to welcome Lemon to the District 68 community.
“Dr. Lemon stands out from the other highly qualified candidates for his communication presence, record of positive leadership, experience aligning disparate groups together to provide the best educational experience and his understanding of the value and priority of the common core curriculum,” Manski said.
Lemon’s work in the Quincy school system has included developing short- and long-range curricular, financial and facility plans.
Matthews is finishing her fifth year as Oak Grove’s superintendent. She’s leaving to become principal at The Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth.