District 181 Board Approves Hiring of Incoming Superintendent, Dr. Don White

Following unanimous approval by the Community Consolidated School District 181 Board of Education at a Special meeting on May 2, 2014, Don White, Ph.D., has been hired as the new superintendent, effective May 27, 2014. Dr. White was presented with a three-year contract at a base salary of $232,500. He will fill the position following Dr. Renée Schuster, who has led District 181 since July 2010.

“We have been very fortunate to have had the leadership of Dr. Renée Schuster during her four-year tenure with District 181,“ said Board President Marty Turek. “She is leaving the District in excellent condition for Dr. Don White, who we know will be an outstanding match for our community. From the beginning of our meetings, the Board has been extremely impressed by Dr. White’s knowledge, experience and commitment to students, staff and families. The Board is eager to support him in guiding the District to even higher levels of excellence.”

An administrator in Illinois schools since 1991, Dr. White has held several education leadership positions. Most recently, he served as the Superintendent of Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C since July 2007, an elementary district in Plainfield with seven schools and approximately 4,500 students. His experience also includes Superintendent positions with Pekin Public Schools District 108 and Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8. He served as Deputy Superintendent and Director of Educational Technology in Champaign Community Unit School District 4, Principal of LeRoy Elementary School and Director of Elementary Instruction and Technology in LeRoy Community Unit School District 2, and Assistant Principal and Athletic Director in Dwight Elementary School District 3. He began his education career as a 4th grade teacher with Lincoln Trail Elementary School in Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District 3.

Dr. White’s education includes a Doctorate from Illinois State University with a Superintendent’s Endorsement, a Master of Education degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Western Illinois University. He has served in a number of service and community organizations, including Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis, and the United Way of Will County. He has held leadership roles in many professional organizations, as well, such as the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), where he has served as a mentor, a Professional Development Committee representative, and Chair Facilitator of the School for Advanced Leadership. He has presented sessions and written articles on the topics of technology, staff evaluations, community engagement, finance, data-driven decision making, and leadership. Among other honors and awards, Dr. White earned the IASA Service to Education Award in both 2007 and 2012.

When asked about the highlights of his 27-year career in education thus far, Dr. White cites the partnerships critical to being an effective leader and to student success. “I have had the opportunity to work with many teachers and principals, and together we have been able to impact the learning process for children, right in the classroom. I have enjoyed the chance to provide guidance to educators. Now more than ever, this is a difficult but exciting time in public schools. There has been a great deal of change, and we have the ability to make that change become a positive and meaningful experience in schools.”

The District 181 Board of Education hired BWP & Associates to conduct the search for the incoming superintendent. The process included a survey, interviews and focus groups to develop a candidate profile that served as a guide during candidate screening and subsequent interviews. The firm received applications from 43 candidates and narrowed the field to six semi-finalists. Board members interviewed the semi-finalists and asked their top three candidates to return for interviews with staff association leaders, school administrators, and District administrators.

“The District 181 Board of Education deserves praise for conducting a timely and comprehensive search for a new superintendent,” said Mark Friedman of BWP & Associates. “The process worked flawlessly, with input from stakeholders throughout the school district community. BWP consultants Anne Noland, Steve Griesbach, Phil Ehrhardt and I offer congratulations to the Board and new Superintendent Dr. Don White. This was truly a job well done.” Turek applauded BWP & Associates for their work, as well, noting that the superintendent profile they developed through community feedback proved a critical tool to reviewing candidate materials and choosing the right individuals to interview.

Dr. White remarks that he enjoyed the interview process. “It was a good journey. I felt a connection to the District and was made very comfortable in conversations with the Board and other District leaders. It was also clear that my core values were a good match to the Board and the organization as a whole.”

While he was not actively looking to make a change to a new district when he was contacted about the opening, Dr. White says he was drawn to District 181. “I see a community that wants to dream big. I am energized by the idea of facilitating a conversation about where we want to go, understanding our readiness to get there, and then putting systems in place to plan how to best achieve those dreams. I also want to make sure people enjoy coming to work and that their skills and strengths can shine.” Dr. White remarks that he also wants to learn more about what makes the District high achieving “beyond even the great staff, parents, community, and resources.” His professional goal as stated in his resume: To lead an organization that aspires to be a state and national leader in public education.

Dr. White has been married for 32 years to his wife Lori, a registered nurse. They have two grown children, Traci (married to Jeff) and Bryant (married to Desiree), one grandson, and a second grandchild due in June.