District 86 Names Brad Verthein Assistant Superintendent

HINSDALE, IL – The Hinsdale Township District 86 board of education named Brad Verthein, current director of student services, its next assistant superintendent of student services. Verthein will begin in the new role on July 1 and replace Tammy Prentiss, who on May 1 will succeed Dr. Bruce Law as superintendent of schools. Law has requested an early release from his contract, which will become effective on April 30.

“We are delighted that Brad will take the helm in Student Services,” Prentiss said. “Brad has established relationships with our families and staff, and that connection has provided the foundation to help us improve what we do. We have strengthened our processes for supporting students and because of that work District 86 has become a national model for social and emotional learning at the high school level. Now Brad will lead the implementation of the strategic plan in Student Services, aligning our resources to our values.”

Verthein called the new role a "tremendous opportunity."

“I am honored to follow Tammy in this role and for this tremendous opportunity,” he said. “I want to express my gratitude to our community, the Board, Pam Bylsma, Bruce Law and Tammy Prentiss for their support, their mentorship and their confidence in me. I began my career in education as a school psychologist, focused on helping improve academic, behavioral and emotional outcomes for students. I am still committed to those goals.

"My past five years in District 86 have included a thorough review of the department and as a result we have made vast improvements in the services we offer and how we offer them. The creation of the Transition Center, the Bridge Program and HAVEN are a testament to that work and the commitment we have to our students and families.”

Verthein has served as director of student services in District 86 since 2014. Previously, he was assistant director of pupil services for Naperville District 203 for one year and a school psychologist in Indian Prairie School District 204 for eight years. Verthein holds a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Psychology from Northern Illinois University, a Master of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary’s College.