Pioneering school psychologist was first one hired by District 54

A longtime school psychologist in Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 who pioneered ways to determine the needs of special education students and who was instrumental in determining how all students were assessed has died.

In 1965, Robert "Chuck" Hanlon was the first school psychologist hired by District 54. Now, there are 28 on staff in the district, or one for every building, and they help provide special services to more than 10 percent of the district's 13,000 students.

District 54 students live in Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Elk Grove Village, Roselle, Rolling Meadows and Streamwood.

Hanlon died June 29. The Elgin resident was 76.

"He definitely was a pioneer in the field of special education," said retired District 54 Superintendent Ed Rafferty. "At the time he started, mandated special education was a new field, so he helped develop the protocol for evaluating students' needs."

Rafferty began his career as a special-education teacher, and consequently he watched Hanlon work with students and their parents firsthand.

Beyond his evaluating skills, Hanlon provided counseling and set up support groups for students, parents and staff.

"Chuck had this intuitive sense of how social, emotional and behavioral issues could impact students' learning, and he developed strategies to help them," Rafferty said. "He was incredibly calm and insightful. He just listened so well."

Cassandra Williams, the assistant superintendent for student and administrative services, says Hanlon was one of the visionaries behind the district's early childhood program.

Just one year ago, District 54 administrators opened the Early Learning Center in Schaumburg, one of the largest preschool programs of its kind in the state.

But its roots go back to a program started by Hanlon and Sandy Taenzer, an early childhood expert who would go on to serve as project director for the Early Childhood Block Grant.

From the start, Hanlon helped establish special services to meet the needs of children with learning disabilities, as well as set up criteria that the district would use for screening students at risk of academic failure.

"He definitely paved the way," Williams says. "He helped create the role of a psychologist within the district and just helped us learn more about the different needs of students."

Hanlon's imprint also was felt in May, Williams added, when District 54 was recognized as one of three early childhood programs in the state to receive the "Award of Excellence for the Inclusion of Children with Special Needs."

Specifically, the award, given by ExceleRate Illinois, recognizes early learning providers for adopting best practices and research-based strategies for Illinois' most high-need, at-risk children and families.

Hanlon is survived by his wife, Judith; three daughters, Christine (Tim) Smith, Mary (Mark) Hogan, and Kathryn (Nick) Novelle, and eight grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 3-9 p.m. Friday, with a memorial service at 7 p.m. at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, 330 W. Golf Road in Schaumburg.