Dist. 155 plucks superintendent from Dist. 214

The Crystal Lake High School District 155 school board has tapped an educator with experience in suburban and city schools as its new superintendent.

Johnnie Thomas, the current associate superintendent for student services at Northwest Suburban High School District 214, will succeed the retiring Jill Hawk. Thomas’ tenure begins July 1, 2012.

“We began discussing what we wanted to see in our next superintendent last year,” board President Ted Wagner said in a news release. “As the search progressed, we were excited to find several great internal and external candidates, with Dr. Thomas continually impressing the board throughout the interview process. We agreed that he was the right fit to lead us forward academically and financially.”

Prior to his role in District 214, Thomas, 38, served as executive director of student services at Valley View District 365-U in Romeoville. Thomas also was a school social worker in the Chicago Public Schools system.

“The community in Crystal Lake is very supportive, the board is very high functioning and there is an opportunity to do some really, really great things for the kids and their parents in the community,” Thomas said.

A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Thomas earned his master’s degree in social work from Loyola University and a doctorate in education from DePaul University.

“I have worked in a wide range of areas in education and I have experienced a lot of success in terms of helping students reach their full potential,” Thomas said. “That will help going into a team atmosphere such as in District 155.”