District 65 Appoints New Assistant Superintendent Of Schools

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston/Skokie School District 65 last week announced that current Dewey Elementary principal Andalib Khelghati will serve as assistant superintendent of schools, effective July 1. Superintendent Paul Goren recommended the appointment, which was approved 6-0 by the D65 board at its meeting Monday, April 24.

“I could not be more pleased to have Andalib join our senior leadership team. He was an ideal candidate for this important role and brings a depth of knowledge of our school district and our community," Goren said. "He has a deep understanding of our instructional core and is a champion of racial and educational equity. He will be an asset to our work and a great thought partner."

“I am both honored and excited to step into this new role. This is a tremendous community with a strong vision for student success. I look forward to working alongside our teachers, principals, and district administrative team to ensure student growth and continued success for all schools,” Khelghati said.

“Dewey is a truly special community and I am grateful for my tenure in this school. I have continually been impressed by the spirit and commitment to children that drives the teachers and parents who work so hard to make this an excellent place of learning,” he added.

Khelghati will be responsible for leadership and oversight of all elementary, middle, and magnet schools in his new role. He will manage the overall delivery of curriculum services to improve student achievement and work closely with Stacy Beardsley, leader of the district’s curriculum and instruction department. He will be responsible for fostering growth and professional learning for principals in addition to serving as a trusted resource and adviser for teachers and school administrators.

Khelghati will serve as an integral member of the district leadership team and will report to Superintendent Goren. He will succeed John Price who was recently appointed to serve as Superintendent in North Chicago District 187 and will start on July 1.

Donna Sokolowski who is currently serving as the assistant principal at Dewey has been appointed by Dr. Goren as the interim principal for the 2017-2018 school year. The search process for a full-time principal will begin next school year and will incorporate feedback from the school community.

Andalib Khelghati has been an educator and a school leader for over 20 years. As the principal of Dewey Elementary for the past six years, he has worked collaboratively with teachers and families in promoting an agenda focused on strengthening the school to support all students. Prior to joining the Dewey team, he was a teacher at both the elementary and middle school level and held previous roles as a literacy staff developer and an assistant principal. Mr. Khelghati has a Master’s Degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College and recently earned his doctoral degree in Urban Education Leadership at the University of Illinois Chicago.

» via Evanston/Skokie School District 65

Top photo | Andalib Khelghati | Courtesy District 65