LHS Superintendent Named 2023 IASA Superintendent Of Distinction

LEMONT, IL — Lemont High School District 210 Superintendent Dr. Mary Ticknor has been named the 2023 Superintendent of Distinction by her colleagues in the Cook South Region of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, according to a news release from the school.

Ticknor was honored at an awards luncheon on May 3 in Springfield. State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders was the featured speaker, where 21 IASA regional Superintendents of Distinction were recognized.

“It’s an honor to receive this award, but every accomplishment that led to this has been a joint effort. I share this recognition with the Lemont High School administrative team, staff and Board of Education,” Ticknor, who has been an educator for 39 years and is in her 11th year as superintendent, said in a release. “When everyone puts students first and works together, good things happen.”

The peers who nominated Ticknor for this honor noted a number of district successes during her tenure, including:

• Lemont High School being named an Exemplary High Performing School in the 2017 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program
• Lemont High School District 210 receiving Chicago Tribune Top Workplace Awards six straight years (2017-22)
• Developing a comprehensive master facilities planning process and ensuring ongoing funding for continuous facilities improvements through passage of a referendum to increase the district’s debt service extension base.
• Updated technological infrastructure and the implementation of 1:1 teaching and learning beginning in 2017
• Creating an in-house transportation department when the district’s local transportation vendor went out of business
• Partnering with CITGO Petroleum Company to establish the Lemont High School CITGO Innovation Academy.
• Implementing an instructional coaching program to support teachers’ professional growth
• Establishing the Lemont High School Alumni Hall of Fame
• Successfully advocating with federal legislators to ensure continued authorization of and, appropriation for, Federal Properties Impact Aid
• Assisting the Lemont High School Educational Foundation with restructuring its primary fundraiser into an extremely successful annual community event
• Establishing best practices in curriculum, instruction and assessment
• Supporting an inclusive school culture that promotes a sense of belonging and fosters respect and acceptance

Superintendents of Distinction were selected by peers in their region based on their commitment, dedication and leadership, according to the release. The Cook South Region includes 67 school districts.

“Each of these superintendents are great examples of how dynamic leadership can improve the educational environment for students, strengthen communities and continuously push districts forward,” said IASA Executive Director Dr. Brent Clark. “Their commitment and dedication to helping students succeed is unwavering, and I applaud each of these honorees for everything they have done to elevate public education in Illinois.”

The ninth annual luncheon was sponsored by Aflac, America’s most recognized supplemental insurance provider.

“These superintendents excel at providing a supportive, enriching and safe environment to help both students and faculty achieve their best every day,” Luke Rockwell, Aflac Regional Sales Coordinator, said in a release. “As a proud partner of IASA, Aflac applauds each of these dynamic leaders for their dedication, commitment and leadership.”