District 205 Board Approves New Assistant Superintendent of HR

Elmhurst, IL – The Elmhurst District 205 Board of Education has unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Joseph W. Schumacher as the next Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

With a driving mission to continue attracting top talent that will ensure continued success, the District administrative team conducted a rigorous, multi-step process to find a highly qualified candidate to serve as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 strategic plan includes an objective of recruiting, developing, and retaining a high quality workforce. The Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources is responsible for leading the team to meet and exceed that objective, so when it came to choosing the next candidate for that role, District administrators were keenly aware of the importance in being thorough in every element of the process.

The District received a total of 47 applications for the position and 15 were selected for initial screening. Following these screenings, a total of six candidates rose to the top and were identified as finalists to attend an in-person interview with a panel that included district administration, leaders from schools throughout the District and members of the Board of Education. Following the first round, three candidates were chosen to be a part of the extensive third round interviews.

“Filling this position with the absolute best candidate for the job was vital to the success of our team,” said Superintendent Dr. Keisha Campbell. “Throughout the interview process, the experience, skills, and disposition of Dr. Schumacher became increasingly evident as strengths for the role. His experience as a teacher and a building leader in a large unit school district was something that was important to us, along with his drive and dedication to excellence in education. We are honored to have him join our team and look forward to working with him as we continue to ensure that all students graduate ready for college, career and life.”

Dr. Schumacher brings 20-years of experience as a leader in education, including a diverse portfolio which encompasses teaching English Language Arts at both the high school and middle school levels while also serving as an assistant dean and varsity cross-country coach. He then spent eight years as a middle school assistant principal and ultimately became the building principal of Dundee Middle School in Community Unit School District 300. Dr. Schumacher was then promoted to the Executive Director of Curriculum & Assessment role at Community Unit School District 300, and was quickly promoted to the role of Assistant Superintendent of Middle & High Schools, a role he has held for the last seven years.

“I am beyond excited for the opportunity to be the next Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources,” shared Dr. Schumacher. “I look forward to working closely with District 205 staff and administrators to guide the human resources department. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the strong and impressive history of the District as we also explore ways to honor that history while continuously improving and ensuring that our work aligns to the strategic plan and, always staying focused on looking for opportunities to enhance and expand the student experience.”

Dr. Schumacher received his Bachelors in English Education, Cum Laude from Illinois State University, his Masters in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University, his Doctorate in Administration and Supervision as well as his Superintendent License from Loyola University and his Chief School Business Official endorsement from University of Illinois. He has also successfully earned his Professional Human Capital Leader in Education (pHCLE) certification through AASPA.

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