Meet District 87's New Superintendent

The community is invited to a reception to meet David Larson, superintendent in Glenbard Township High School District 87, effective July 1.

The reception will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 16, at Glenbard East High School, 1014 S. Main St. in Lombard. Light refreshments will be served.

The Glenbard District 87 Board of Education .

Larson comes to Glenbard District 87 with significant educational experience, including 12 years as superintendent.

Since 2008, he has been superintendent in Birmingham Public Schools, a 13-school district with 8,200 students in Michigan. Prior to that, he was superintendent in Harbor Springs Public Schools from 1999 through 2007. Harbor Springs is a four-school district located in northern Michigan. Additional experience includes principal of Mount Pleasant, MI, High School, deputy principal at Singapore American School, assistant principal at Crestwood Middle School Palm Beach, FL., Co., teacher at Twin Lakes High School (now Palm Beach Lakes High School). He also has experience coaching girls and boys' soccer teams.

Larson has a reputation for fostering innovation, ingenuity and divergent thinking, as well as for prioritizing and elevating exemplary teaching practices. He is known for being a highly visible, energetic leader with a collaborative leadership style. Larson has significant experience in facilitating and implementing strategic work.

Larson has extensive experience in policy development, as well as experience with goal setting and monitoring and measuring results. In the Birmingham Public Schools, just a few of the things he oversaw were: a balanced budget of all funds (2008-2011), an energy management initiative and a comprehensive revenue generating plan. He also facilitated an operations and achievement benchmarking study.

Also, he facilitated a multi-year, comprehensive K-12 focus on 21st century teaching and learning; oversaw development and sustainment of Professional Learning Communities; oversaw restructuring of enrichment services; and coordinated intentional technology tools and infrastructure investments for enabling a 21st century teaching and learning environment.

Larson earned a doctorate degree in educational leadership (1989) and a master’s degree in administration and supervision (1984) from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Asbury College in 1980. He holds a Michigan administrative certificate – secondary level and a Florida administration and supervision certificate K-12.

Larson grew up in New Guinea, Indonesia, as the son of a missionary anthropologist. He spent his early childhood among primitive, stone-age people known as the Dani. He spent his high school years in an international school in Penang, Malaysia.

This message was provided by Glenbard Township High School District 87.