Meet Glen Ellyn District 89's new superintendent

Is the return to school a hectic time of year?

It should be if you're scrambling to get school supplies or if you're a superintendent new to the job.

But Emily Tammaru, who took the helm of Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 this July, is the kind of educator who begins the countdown early.

"Back in the classroom, I just remember loving the first weeks of school and seeing that excitement and passion," she says.

Tammaru, previously an assistant superintendent, succeeds John Perdue, who retired after 11 years leading the district. The 41-year-old from North Aurora joined the district in 2007 as principal of Briar Glen Elementary School in Wheaton, and before that, held administrative and teaching positions in West Aurora District 12.

Ahead of the first day of classes Monday, Tammaru met with the Daily Herald to talk about why she became an educator and her goals overseeing a district with about 2,100 students.

This is an edited version of that conversation.

Q. Tell us about your career and how you got into teaching.

A. I had the good fortune of working with some students when I was in high school who were absolutely amazing. They had some learning challenges and differences that maybe other kids didn't have to deal with.

And as I nannied for them summer after summer, I was able to see just how unbelievably successful they could be and really with no limitations. I really kind of caught the bug then.

Q. What challenges did those kids face and how did that experience influence your approach to education?

A. The young boy had a significant learning disability. He was very energetic, and the little girl was born with one arm. Their parents were wonderful models for me as well.

Their parents just had expectations for them, and they were going to be successful and lifelong learners. Through that, we worked together, and the kids were tremendously successful and went on to lead successful lives.

It was neat to see that really any child can be successful. Any child can learn and accomplish anything they put their minds to, given the proper supports.

Q. How will you spend the first week of the new school year?

A. We've been spending all summer getting ready for the first week, so hopefully it will be wildly successful. I will spend the first week in the buildings and welcoming back families.

You have to be out there and be visible and you have to be a part of the community and let people know who you are and let them know that you're invested in their future and support their efforts.

We have an unbelievable teaching staff here in District 89, I think second to none. They work very hard to ensure our kids have an engaging learning environment and a very safe learning environment, and so I think it's important for me to support that and help them to be able to provide that.

Q. What are your priorities for this year and beyond?

A. There are two key administrators who are new to the position - myself and Robert Langman (an assistant superintendent) - but what I think we offer in that transition is that we're both familiar with the district and so we are looking to provide that stability for our staff and our families and our students.

We had a big year last year. We implemented full-day kindergarten. We added 30 minutes to our school day. Teachers started to implement new science standards. They're going to continue that implementation this year. They implemented an entire new reading curriculum.

So the priorities are managing those initiatives right now so we can monitor their success and ensure they're effective long-term.

Our first group of full-day kindergartners finished last year and had huge success.

With that, we've had to spend quite a bit of time over the summer with our first-grade teachers with significant amounts of professional development to update the curriculum for the readiness of those new kindergartners, who really are much further along than our previous, so they can continue their growth.

We have a long-term plan to ensure that we'll do the same work with second grade, third grade, as that group goes along so the curriculum and the learning expectations are kept to those high standards and meet the students' needs.

Q. Regarding the district's finances, a tentative 2016-17 budget presented this week projected a $566,243 deficit. If there is a shortfall at the end of the year, the district would dip into fund balances to plug the hole. And on the revenue side, the last time District 89 voters approved an operating tax rate increase was in November 1986, almost 30 years ago. How will you address concerns about the district's financial future?

A. I'm seven weeks into the new position, and I think right now, it's important to really evaluate all of our current situation. We're monitoring the finances and looking at it. I'm not quite sure what district in the state of Illinois isn't at this point, given the state's insecurity with its budget. We have the yearlong budget for education obviously, but there's no long-term solution from the state as well.

Q. Describe a memorable moment when you've made a difference in a student's life.

A. I had a student once who had a horrible attendance pattern. Honestly, he was on the verge of probably not looking to much success in high school. He was on my class list, and I saw his name and knew that he had struggles coming to school the year prior and I worked with him and his family.

I would say that probably one of the greatest successes I've had has been with that student and his motivation and engagement in school and really learning who he was and establishing that connection and relationship.

And he came to school every day and had just a much improved outcome and was able to transition to the high school that next year with success and a path for his future.

Getting to know them and finding out what helps engage them in the learning - I think that's critical.