PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Peoria Public Schools held a town hall on Wednesday, giving parents and the community a chance to discuss what they’d like to see in a new superintendent.
The school board is tasked with finding a replacement for Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, who is retiring when her contract expires at the end of this school year.
At the town hall at Peoria Central High School, people talked with school board members and representatives of From the Heart Educational Services, LLC, the firm hired to find the district’s next superintendent.
From the Heart promised that parents’ viewpoint will guide the hiring process, but they also shared several qualities they feel make up a good leader.
“We are living currently in an ever-changing technological world. So, we want someone who’s highly skilled in that area, and that’s going to expose our children to technology so they have the ability to compete at all levels,” Walter Milton, the CEO of From the Heart, and a former superintendent, told 25 News.
One parent said she wants someone who will lessen the achievement differences between different groups.
Music teacher Maura Shepherd asked the firm how they’ll make sure that fine art education is valued, not seen as a way to give other teachers time to plan.
Others voiced support for the new superintendent to live in Peoria.
“(I) Would love to have somebody that’s fully passionate about Peoria and our district. Secondarily, I’d love to have a candidate that has experience as an Assistant Superintendent in a district similar to Peoria Public Schools,” parent Doug Shannon said.
From the Heart also told parents what they expect the timeline to look like. They plan to start the application process sometime in October. And, there will likely be three rounds of interviews.
The firm hopes to have a new superintendent candidate announced by January or February.
PPS Board president Gregory Wilson confirmed that the district is paying From the Heart $44,000 for their help.
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