District 97 Superintendent Retiring After 2014-15 School Year

Submitted by Oak Park Elementary School District 97. Photo: Albert G. Roberts via D97.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, Dr. Al Roberts announced that he will be retiring at the end of the 2014-15 school year. Below are statements that he and the District 97 Board of Education released about this announcement.

Statement from Roberts
Dear District 97 Community:

For the past five years, you have afforded me the honor and privilege of serving as the superintendent of District 97. You have aided me in my efforts to build on our district’s history of excellence. You have worked alongside me on programs, projects and initiatives that have our schools on track to move from great to world class. You have challenged me as a leader to never settle or be satisfied when it comes to the success of our students. You have also inspired me with a passionate commitment to education that is unlike anything I have experienced in my 45-year career. That is why it is with mixed emotions that I announce my decision to retire at the conclusion of the 2014-15 school year.

There are very few things that are more difficult than walking away from what you love to do. For me, being a teacher, a principal and an administrator have always been “jobs” in title only. I have woken up every morning and gone to bed every night excited by the opportunities I have been given to contribute to the growth and development of countless young men and women. What has made my time here truly special is being part of a community where everyone has shared that same level of excitement. I have also been incredibly impressed by the energy and enthusiasm you have invested into helping our students excel both in and out of the classroom on a daily basis. If I leave Oak Park with one regret, it is that I found this place at the end of my career rather than the beginning.

While I am looking forward to assuming the full-time roles of husband, father and grandfather upon my retirement, there is still much we have to do in the months ahead. Whether working on the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, International Baccalaureate program or Research for Better teaching initiative, aiding our buildings in their preparation for the arrival of the PARCC test, or celebrating the achievements of our students and staff members, please know that you will continue to get my best each and every day.

In the meantime, I want to thank you for welcoming my family and me from day one, for never waning in your support of our district and, most importantly, for always doing what is best for kids. I am endlessly proud of what we have accomplished together, and am eternally grateful for your kindness, camaraderie and tireless dedication to our schools and the nearly 6,000 students we serve.

Sincerely,

Dr. Al Roberts

Statement from the Board of Education
The members of the District 97 Board of Education wish to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Al Roberts for the exemplary leadership he exhibited not only during his five years here in Oak Park, but throughout a storied career in education that has spanned more than four decades. His innovative approach to learning, strong commitment to excellence and steadfast belief in always doing what is best for children have had a profound and lasting impact on our schools. In addition, the myriad accomplishments amassed during his tenure have aided the continued growth and development of our staff, and contributed to the tremendous success of our students. We thank him for all that he has done on behalf of the district and the families we serve, and wish him the best in his retirement.

While replacing Dr. Roberts will certainly be a challenge, the board will begin the process immediately. The first step will be the issuance of a Request for Qualifications, which we will use to select an executive search firm that will assist us with this critical endeavor. Our goal is to fill the superintendent position by the start of the 2015-16 school year.

We will be discussing the search process during our meeting on January 13, and will keep the community updated on the status of our efforts. In the meantime, we thank you for your continued support of District 97.