‘She already knows the heart of District 54’: Sagan named next superintendent

The Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 board of education made it official Thursday naming Associate Superintendent of Educational Services Jillian Sagan as successor to Superintendent Andy DuRoss next summer.

The board unanimously approved the appointment 6-0 with one member absent.

Board President Nick Scipione recounted the seven-month search process that matched Sagan to the visionary, innovative, collaborative and approachable leader stakeholders agreed was needed.

Absent Board Member Bill Harper conveyed a written statement recalling Sagan’s initial hire as a special services teacher at Lincoln Prairie Elementary School in 2005 and how she’d exceeded expectations in every role.

Those later titles included assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent of professional development and assistant superintendent of educational services before her current one.

“She already knows the heart of District 54,” Harper wrote.

Board Member Bob Kaplan said he’d been looking forward to hearing how some of the external candidates had handled challenges similar to District 54’s. But no one in the search process matched Sagan.

With Harper absent, Board Member Mary Kay Prusnick was the only one to cast a vote on the superintendent appointment who’d done so before. She said it’s clearly the most important decision the board could ever make.

“How wonderful to get to see someone like Jillian, who has taken so many steps forward in her leadership,” Prusnick said. “I’m so pleased to see what’s next for her.”

Board Member Jim Pye said he had faith in Sagan’s ability to get the district back to the level of financial strength it had long known before current challenges.

“You have the potential to be — and you will be — a terrific supe,” he said.

Board Vice President Debbie Schmidt thanked DuRoss for developing such talent within the district during his 13 years as superintendent so far.

Immediately after the vote, Sagan took the microphone at the front of the crowded room to express her thanks to all present.

“To be given the opportunity to serve as the next superintendent is the greatest honor of my professional career,” she said. “After more than 20 years, this doesn’t feel like starting a new journey, it feels like I’m continuing one. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together and I am even more excited about what lies ahead. Thank you for the privilege of serving this extraordinary community. The best chapters of District 54 are still ahead of us, and I cannot wait to write them together.”

epeterson@dailyherald.com