Dr. Hector Garcia, an educator with over 25 years of public school teaching and administrative experience, will be the new Superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 181 in Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills, effective July 1.
After an extensive search process that included over 30 applicants and involved an interview with key stakeholders, as well as multiple meetings with members of the Board of Education, the Board unanimously appointed Dr. Garcia at its meeting Feb. 26. He will succeed Dr. Don White who has accepted a position in Mokena School District 159.
“Dr. Garcia will be a welcome addition to the D181 team. He brings honed leadership skills, an in-depth knowledge of curriculum and instruction, and a collaborative, student-centered mindset to D181, characteristics that the D181 community identified as needed for success in a superintendent,” said Board of Education President Jennifer Burns.” The Board is looking forward to a long and productive relationship with Dr. Garcia and is eagerly anticipating his July start.”
Dr. Garcia shares: "I'm looking forward to starting the journey of working together with outstanding staff members and a supportive community. This is an exciting time to bring all stakeholders together around a common vision for District 181 students. I await the opportunity to develop strong relationships with the students, staff, parents, and community."
Dr. Garcia is widely recognized for his extensive administrative experience and curriculum improvement efforts. He is the current Superintendent of Plano District 88, where he also serves as Chief Financial Officer and manages Facilities and Operations for the district. Formerly, he was the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Glenbard School District 87, where he led curricular improvements and professional development initiatives. Dr. Garcia has also served as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Plainfield School District 202.
Beyond his 12 years as a district administrator, he has served as a principal, assistant principal, dean of students, and teacher in schools ranging from Adlai Stevenson District 125 in Lincolnshire to Morton East District 201 in Cicero. He has also taught graduate courses on leadership, organizational behavior, and curriculum for three Chicago area universities.
Dr. Garcia's strong belief in developing schools that are responsive to the needs of students and establishing a strong culture of collaboration has resulted in marked improvement in his districts during his leadership as a school administrator. He has presented extensively at the state and national level on administrative and collaborative topics as well as implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs).
Dr. Garcia has also been elected or appointed to key state and national committees. At the state level, he was appointed to serve as one of 32 educators on the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC) charged with creating a new way to evaluate teachers and principals that incorporates student growth measures. At the national level, Dr. Garcia was elected as the Chair of National Academic Assembly Council for College Board.
Dr. Garcia received his Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Loyola University, Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Northern Illinois University, and a Bachelor's degree in history from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is currently working on his CSBO (Chief School Business Official) certification.
