District 220's Brian Harris named Lake County Superintendent of the Year
Brian Harris, superintendent of Barrington Area Unit District 220, was named Lake County's Superintendent of the Year for 2021.
The honor was bestowed by the Lake County Superintendents' Association, which includes 55 county superintendents who cited him as a role model and leader at the national, state and local levels.
"I am honored to be selected as the Lake County Superintendent of the Year among extremely talented educational leaders," Harris said in a statement. "This school year has been extremely challenging for all superintendents, and the collaboration with my Lake County colleagues has been wonderful."
Harris will retire on June 30 after working 34 years in public education and seven years as superintendent in District 220.
Harris helped launch several key initiatives in District 220, including extended-day kindergarten, the One to World program, blended learning, new start times at all 12 district schools, and the Blueprint 220 master facilities plan. He also led the school district's information campaign for a $147 million bond measure that was approved by voters in March 2020.
"As a member of the board that hired Dr. Harris seven years ago, I can attest to the impact of his educational leadership on our district," said school board President Penny Kazmier. "His vision of having a social emotional dashboard for every student will leave a lasting legacy for years to come. Barrington 220 has been lucky to have him lead our district."
Harris also serves as the Lake County representative for the Illinois Association of School Administrators' government relations committee and on the executive committee of the American Association of School Administrators.
District 220 held mostly all-virtual learning in the fall, with the exception of a few days of hybrid learning in October. The district reopened for hybrid learning Jan. 19.
The school board has hired as Harris' successor Robert Hunt, superintendent of Chagrin Falls Schools Exempted Village Schools in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.