A new face guides Big Hollow schools
It was great to see children get off the bus for their first day of classes Wednesday, Big Hollow School District 38 Superintendent Bob Gold said.
But it wasn't just the students who were starting anew Wednesday.
Gold welcomed students to school Wednesday for the first time as District 38 superintendent. The veteran educator joined the district from Arizona in June, replacing former superintendent Christine Demory.
"Seeing the kids get off the bus and head off to class was a lot of fun," Gold said. "It was something I missed at the Arizona Department of Education."
Now he said his goal while serving as superintendent at Big Hollow is to make the district something the community "can be proud of."
"I want the community to come to Big Hollow and say, 'That's our school,'" he said. "I want them to say, 'We are proud of Big Hollow.'"
Gold served as a teacher, principal and superintendent for more than 20 years at Eureka Unit School District 140 near Peoria, before moving his family to Phoenix and accepting a position of Associate Superintendent for Highly Effective Schools with the Arizona Department of Education.
He stayed in Arizona for just one year before searching for a position back in Illinois.
"I called up a couple of search firms to see if there were any positions," he said. "They led me to Big Hollow."
His three-year contract was approved unanimously Feb. 17, and he started the first Monday after students left on summer break.
Upon taking the job, Gold passed along to teachers and community members six goals. They are to focus on service, establish financial security, celebrate successes in the district, have open, effective communication, establish a culture of high expectations and understand the role of teachers and administrators in shaping the lives of students. "We are here to serve the community," Gold said. "The people here are our customers and we should do the best we can to serve them."
To show his commitment, Gold moved to a home in Ingleside, within the district's boundaries. "I didn't have to do that, no, but I wanted my tax dollars to go to the school that is paying me," he said. "I'm a member of the community now, and I want the community to know we will put out a product they can be proud of."