Oswego East Principal Leaving Post to Become Assistant Superintendent

Submitted by Oswego School District 308:

Dr. Louis Lee will be leaving his role as Principal of Oswego East High School (OEHS) in School District 308 to become assistant superintendent at Indian Prairie School District 204.

Dr. Lee was hired last spring and started at OEHS July 1, 2013. He will serve as OEHS’s Principal through June 30 before assuming the assistant superintendent’s role in School District 204 on July 1. The District 204 Board of Education approved the hiring of Dr. Lee on Monday, March 24.

Dr. Matthew Wendt, Superintendent of Schools for School District 308, said he understands Lee’s difficult decision to leave after having done an excellent job at OEHS, but he also noted the move is a promotion for him. 

“Dr. Lee has served OEHS and School District 308 extremely well. Although disappointed in his decision to leave at this time, I understand the attraction of the district administrative position offered to him,” said Wendt. “He and I discussed this difficult decision, but the promotion to a district-level leadership role aligns with his long-term professional goals. He worked in Indian Prairie School District as an assistant principal in the past, and his return to that school district to assume a promotion is understandable.” 
 
Indian Prairie is the state’s third-largest school district with just over 29,000 students.  Over the past decade, and through one of the nation’s worst recessions, School District 308 has experienced a rapid increase in enrollment to almost 18,000 students. District 308 recently passed School District 203 in Naperville to become the eighth-largest school district in the state.

Dr. Lee said he has enjoyed working with School District 308, and if it were not for the unique opportunity being offered to him by the Indian Prairie district, he would remain at OEHS.

“My decision was made with much thought, prayer, and varying degrees of reflection. I did not anticipate an opportunity like this to be presented,” Lee said. “It has always been a lifelong dream of mine to serve as principal in a district and school that focuses on student achievement and excellence. That dream was realized when I accepted the principal’s position at Oswego East. The way staff, students, and the community embraced me and allowed me to become part of their family is something I am truly grateful for and will never forget.”

Lee added that the District 308 community of parents, staff, and students are blessed to have a visionary leader in Dr. Wendt. “His commitment to excellence and high standards for achievement will continue to drive School District 308 toward becoming world-class," Lee said.

In his new role, Dr. Lee will oversee District 204’s three high schools.

Dr. Wendt said the district will move quickly into a search to find the next OEHS Principal and noted that the position will be posted March 26. Dr. Lee’s resignation will be a part of the personnel report at the District 308 Board of Education meeting on April 14.

“School District 308 has excellent school leaders, and those leaders will increasingly be recruited by other school districts. It is no surprise other systems desire quality leadership and often find that quality in our own people,” said Wendt. “Last year, School District 308 faced the challenge of recruiting and hiring the right leader for OEHS. Faced with this same opportunity, I can assure the faculty, staff, students, and parents of OEHS that the next principal will be another tremendous person and leader.”