New Superintendent Of Valley View School District Appointed

BOLINGBROOK, IL — A new superintendent has been approved to helm Valley View School District 365U following Rachel Kinder's departure.

The Board of Education approved the selection of Keith Wood for a promotion to superintendent of schools, with a contract that runs through June 30, 2025.

Wood will succeed Kinder, who "made the extremely difficult decision to prioritize personal matters and pursue new opportunities," Patch reported. She will resign from the role she has held for four years effective March 22.

The new superintendent has worked for Valley View School District since 2011 when he was hired as principal of Brooks Middle School, a position he has held for 13 years. In 2022, he was named Middle School Principal of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education.

RELATED: Superintendent Resigns From Valley View School District

"I look forward to this new role and the challenge as we continue to provide quality educational experiences
for our students and also continue to meet the expectations of the VVSD community," Wood said in a statement.

Wood, who resides in Bolingbrook with his wife, Angela, received his undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master's degree in school leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He holds a doctorate in school leadership from Loyola University Chicago.

The superintendent is currently an advisory board member and co-chair of the Harvard University Graduate School of Education Principals' Center. Locally, he is also an active member of the Bolingbrook Lions Club and serves on the Board of Directors of the Valley View Educational Enrichment Foundation.

"The VVSD Board looks forward to working collaboratively with Dr. Wood and to continue to move VVSD forward," Board President Steve Quigley said in a statement. "We expect his knowledge and understanding of Valley View's demands and community expectations will allow for a smooth transition."