Mount Prospect District 57 hires from within for next superintendent
The Mount Prospect District 57 school board has chosen longtime district administrator Mary Gorr as its next superintendent.
Gorr, currently assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, will assume the top spot July 1, replacing the retiring Elaine Aumiller. Gorr has been with District 57 since 2011, and previously served as principal of Westbrook School for Young Learners.
She was chosen from a field of more than 40 qualified applicants, district officials said.
"From the start, Mary stood out as an exceptional candidate," school board President Eileen Kowalczyk said in an announcement of the appointment. "She has been an asset to the district, and we felt she would be a great fit for this important role."
Aumiller, who is stepping down after 12 years as superintendent, praised the hire, calling Gorr an innovative, responsive educational leader.
"She has worked closely with me, and I know her well," she said. "I have all the confidence in the world that she is the right candidate and will be a terrific next superintendent for District 57."
Gorr began her career as a classroom teacher in Glenview District 34, where she also served as summer school principal. She obtained her doctorate in education policy, organization and leadership from the University of Illinois, where she also earned a master's degree in curriculum and instruction.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to become a superintendent and to do so in a school district that is so important to me, where I feel a deep connection and have built meaningful relationships with students, staff and families through the years," Gorr said in the announcement of her hire.
While at Westbrook in 2015, Gorr was named Principal of the Year by the Illinois Parent Teacher Association. As assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, she has managed the development and implementation of all educational programs for students and professional development for staff.
"Coming from within, I am keenly aware of the challenges we face," she added. "But I'm also convinced that our district is a treasure, with incredible staff and families, and that we can deliver the highest quality and best possible outcome for our kids."
District 57 educates about 2,230 prekindergarten through eighth-grade students in Mount Prospect.