Superintendent Hawk Looks Back Before She Flies

Jill Hawk announced her retirement as superintendent of Crystal Lake Community High School District 155 last year effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. And while her announcement at that time indicated it was to spend time with her husband, Brad Hawk, and seven grandchildren, time has allowed her the luxury of considering other things she might like to do as well. 

“I believe so deeply in the importance of public education. It is the underpinnings of a strong democracy,” she said. “I do want to continue contributing, there’s no question. I don’t plan to stop contributing whether that’s voluntary or otherwise. I’m OK if I don’t walk out of here with a full agenda; it gives me time to adjust.” 

Hawk didn’t offer details about what that service might be, adding there were many personal efforts as well she’d like to pursue such as her love of music, reading, gardening, cooking and involvement with the community. 

Considering Hawk’s impressive career spanning decades, it seems most likely whatever she chooses to do will be a continuation of the full-throttle, no-holds-barred efforts she’s known for rather than a retiree’s leisurely pace. 

Hawk admitted she is leaving the “best job in education,” and spoke glowingly of the school district–the employees, students and school board—and of the communities it serves. 

Hawk joined the school district in 2002 as the curriculum director and replaced Mike Mills in 2005 as superintendent. 

Over the next year Hawk plans to help the district transition smoothly into its next phase of leadership and doing what she can to get everything in order for her successor. 

“I am grateful for what went ahead of me that got us here,” she said. “The decisions that I’m making right now I won’t live with, but someone else will inherit them and I want them to be grateful too.” 

Some of the issues Hawk and the district are focusing on are ensuring quality curriculum and teaching in every classroom. Hiring good people and being clear about what is expected is only part of the equation–helping them succeed is another important component, she said. The district has a staff development program and partnership with Northern Illinois University. Hawk added that a committee is in the process of developing a new evaluation system to help teachers set goals. 

The district is taking a proactive approach to state-required student evaluations for teachers that won’t be in effect until 2012 by hiring quality teachers in every classroom. Hawk said the hiring process and support of teachers has been center focus of the district for a long time. 

Another area of focus is preparing students for post secondary endeavors which include choosing the right two- or four-year college and the qualifications to ensure acceptance. And helping students learn now to choose a career whether college-bound or through the trades, the military or entrepreneurship. 

Providing a system of intervention for students who struggle academically is another area of focus, she said, which includes social, academic and emotional support with an emphasis on teacher-student relationships. 

Service focus groups, sports and extracurricular activities are also on Hawk’s “to-do” checklist. 

Something she’d like her successor to know is that the job is not a popularity contest. Hawk has faced some criticisms in her tenure, most notably the boundary change the district looked at last year for Cary-Grove and Prairie Ridge high schools. 

Hawk said parents learned of school board discussions about possible changes through news reports before the district had committed to anything. Taking the concern of parents to heart, Hawk and the school board acted quickly to develop a committee and preliminary plans to present to two public meetings. With input from parents, an agreement about boundaries was reached. 

Looking back, Hawk said that community involvement was an invaluable part of the process that left people feeling partnership is a worthwhile effort.

School Board Member Dave Secrest credited Hawk with the district’s success in keeping students’ test scores high, a 98 percent graduation rate and a cost-per-pupil ratio better than many other districts. 

“Jill has given us direction and long-range planning and brought in top-notch staff and the administrative team and set the tone for staff teaching support administration,” he said. “She is not afraid to tap resources involved nationally. I think she’s got the respect of a pretty big employer.”