Meet The New OLCHS Dist. 229 Superintendent Dr. Shahe Bagdasarian

OAK LAWN, IL — Dr. Shahe Bagdasarian is about to start his first school year as superintendent of Oak Lawn Community High School Dist. 229. He has two sons – one in college and another about to start his senior year at a west suburban high school. Bagdasarian started his career as a special education teacher in Lansing, Mich. After relocating to the Chicago area, he taught, coached football, and held numerous educational leadership positions, most recently as the principal of York High School in Elmhurst. He earned a bachelor’s degree from State University of New York, Buffalo State University and holds master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Bagdasarian also has a special connection to mid-century pop culture.

Patch: Where did you grow up?

Bagdasarian: I grew up in Amherst, NY, outside of Buffalo.

Patch: What are your earliest memories of school? You must have really liked it?

Bagdasarian: Although I was a good student, I wasn’t a straight A student by any means. I was more into school for the social, athletic and extracurricular side. It’s kind of funny, going through high school I didn’t put a lot of effort into school until my junior and senior year.
I think part of it was finding my own passion. It’s so important for kids to find what they like to do and enjoy doing. That’s the reason I got into education administration, making sure kids have opportunities and whatever it is you want to pursue – college, military, career – and set goals. That motivates kids to excel in a school environment.

Patch: What is the biggest challenge coming to a district that had an established leader for so long?

Bagdasarian: I’ve been fortunate to have had an opportunity to work with [former superintendent] Dr. [Mike] Riordan over the past six months and getting to know the lay of the land. That experience has been invaluable to me with this transition. With that, there are also challenges coming into a new role. I think from my standpoint I’m replacing a superintendent who has had a long history in the district and is very well respected by staff and community members. Really, for me, Dist. 229 is not a place that needs an overhaul or to clean things up. The district is in great shape. For me, it’s providing guidance and direction.

Patch: What is your goal as the new superintendent?

Bagdasarian: I’m always looking for new opportunities for growth that will provide a better educational experience for kids and to make sure Oak Lawn students are leaving the district in a good place for whatever they choose to do upon graduation. Our job as administrators and teachers is not to set the path for kids, but to provide opportunities for them to set their own paths based upon their interests and strengths. My first year my focus will be on building relationships.

Patch: School safety is a big concern of parents, students and staff. What are your thoughts on school safety? Have you met with school security staff and the Oak Lawn Police Department? What proactive steps would you take to further protect and secure the building?

Bagdasarian: It is my priority to make sure there are active steps behind improving measures here in the district and building to enhance school safety. Earlier this year, we had a safety consultant come to review our safety protocols and it was extremely positive. Just because they said we’re in good shape there is always room for improvement.

How are we going to be proactive, not reactive? Our biggest asset is “see something, say something.” Metal detectors are good optics and make people feel safe, but safety is everyone’s responsibility, including students and staff. We want to be proactive. We have outstanding student services staff who make a point of getting to know our students.

Patch: Have you had the chance to meet other superintendents in the area?

Bagdasarian: I’ve met several area superintendents through various meetings, AERO, the South Cook Superintendents Collaborative. I also had an opportunity to meet with superintendents of our feeder schools at Dist. 123 and 122.

Patch: Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of work?

Bagdasarian: I love spending time with my kids. I do like to exercise just to stay active. I love watching sporting events and look forward to the fall and watching college football.

Patch: What was your first job?

Bagdasarian: My first job, I worked in the summer as an assistant for a small pharmacy in my hometown. I was the delivery driver and would deliver medication to people and stock shelves.

Patch: What was the last movie you saw in a theater?

Bagdasarian: I don’t normally go to movies, but I actually saw the “Barbie” movie last week.

Patch: What book(s) are you reading?

Bagdasarian: “The Connection Mindset: A Solution For Our Schools,” by Ted Stec.

Patch: So tell us about your connection to Ross Bagdasarian and the original Chipmunks – Alvin, Simon and Theodore?

Bagadasarian: He’s related to my great grandfather so is a second cousin. My family is from Armenia. My mom was in Lebanon for several years and then Beirut and Syria, before moving to the United States when she was 22. A lot of Amernians came over in the 1920s. They ended up in Chicago and California, where Ross lived. Ross voiced David Seville, the manager of the Chipmunks. I never met him, but we would watch the cartoons as kids.