Schaumburg educator hired as next District 73 superintendent
A Schaumburg educator and Wauconda resident will be the next superintendent in Hawthorn Elementary District 73.
Peter Hannigan, currently assistant superintendent for human resources at Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54, will take the helm at the Vernon Hills-based district beginning July 1.
The District 73 school board on Monday approved a three-year contract with Hannigan. His starting base pay will be $190,000.
Board members hired Hannigan after a national search in which more than 40 people applied for the position left vacant when former Superintendent Nick Brown took a job in Indiana. The district in 2018-19 has been led by two interim superintendents.
The school board held nine closed-session meetings related to superintendent interviews, as well as a community engagement day and an online survey.
Board President Sonali Patil said Hannigan was the best fit for District 73.
"His experiences in Schaumburg closely reflect the qualities that were outlined in the superintendent search profile for Hawthorn 73," she said in a statement Tuesday. "His enthusiasm, energy and passion for children will be well received by the students, staff and families in our community."
Hannigan comes to District 73 as it prepares to proceed with a $48.7 million building program involving all six schools, as well as construction of a kindergarten center. Voters in November approved a bond issue to fund the plan.
"Over the last couple of months, we did spend a lot of time together getting to know you and your vision for Hawthorn 73," Hannigan said after being introduced to the public during Monday's school board meeting. "I'm extremely grateful to be part of this next chapter in Hawthorn 73 history."
Hannigan was hired as principal of Everett Dirksen Elementary School in Schaumburg in 2006 and served in a variety of leadership roles there before being promoted to his current post in 2013.
He was lauded by District 73 for promoting a collaborative culture, creating staffing plans that aligned to student achievement goals, developing a long-term facilities plan, and establishing a pipeline for recruiting and developing teachers and administrators.
Accompanied by his parents, wife and three children, Hannigan on Monday acknowledged the colleagues and mentors he has had during his career. District 54 board President Mary Kay Prusnick and board member Bill Harper also attended.
"It's an honor to be here, and I'm looking forward to growing professionally and personally long term here in Hawthorn 73," Hannigan said.
Last June, Hannigan was among eight top District 54 administrators who received five-year contract extensions from the school board. His salary for the current school year is $166,900.