New Trier Grad Kelly Tess Promoted To District 36 Superintendent

WINNETKA, IL — Winnetka School District 36 board members have picked Assistant Superintendent Kelly Tess to succeed Trisha Kocanda as superintendent starting in July.

Tess is a New Trier High School graduate who spent five years as principal of The Skokie School before becoming assistant superintendent for professional learning and human resources.

"She understands the Winnetka student experience from Kindergarten through eighth grade and is deeply committed to progressive educational values," according to a statement issued by the board following her appointment.

"Tess is well-positioned to step into the superintendency. She has in-depth knowledge of all elements of the district and will be able to move our students and staff forward at this critical time of recovery and accelerate progress toward our district goals," it said.

Tess began her teaching career in California as an elementary school teacher and spent a year teaching at a military base in Alabama before returning to the North Shore to teach in West Northfield School District 31 schools in Glenview and Northbrook. She went on to become an assistant principal in Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 before becoming assistant principal of The Skokie School in 2014.

Kocanda, who has served as superintendent since 2014, announced last month sheintended to resign, effective June 30, in order to become superintendent of Fremont School District 79 in Mundelein.

Board members expressed gratitude for Kocanda's commitment to working closely with Tess in the final months of the 2021-22 school year to ensure the district's work continues uninterrupted.

According to the board statement, district officials will release further information regarding the process of conducting a national search to identify a new assistant superintendent of the five-school, 1,600-student district.

Related: District 36 Superintendent Trisha Kocanda Resigns To Take Job In Mundelein