New Trier High School Superintendent Gets Contract Extension

New Trier District 203: Dr. Paul Sally, who has led New Trier High School District 203 through a successful strategic planning process over the last year, will continue to serve the District as superintendent under a five-year contract renewal approved by the Board of Education on Monday evening.

Sally began his term as District 203 superintendent in July 2017, following the retirement of former superintendent Dr. Linda Yonke. The Board unanimously approved the five-year contract renewal.

“Dr. Sally is off to a wonderful start as New Trier superintendent,” said Board of Education President Greg Robitaille. “He successfully transitioned the Winnetka Campus into its new building and established a strategic planning process that will give the District clear priorities over the next decade. This contract will give the District the stability and continuity in leadership to put this plan into action.”

Sally began his career at New Trier in 1994 and spent 15 years on the mathematics faculty, including four years as the Northfield Campus Coordinator for the Mathematics Department. He was promoted to Assistant Superintendent in 2009 and Associate Superintendent in 2014. Prior to being named superintendent, he served in various leadership roles throughout his 25-year career at New Trier, including as a member of the Board of Education Finance Committee, the Facilities Steering Committee and the Board’s negotiation team for the last three faculty contracts.

Over the past year, Sally has led the New Trier 2030 strategic planning process to chart a course for the future of New Trier High School for the next decade and beyond. That process has included the input of community members, government leaders, parents, students, faculty, staff and alumni. Sally will oversee implementation of the plan, including annual goals and strategies for achieving those goals in six frameworks: Intellectual Engagement, Growth, and Readiness; Student Personal Growth, Engagement, and Well-being; Culture, Climate, and Equity; Leadership Throughout the School; Community Engagement, Partnerships, and Governance; and Finance, Facilities, and Human Resources.

“I am honored by the Board of Education’s support through this contract renewal,” Sally said. “I am excited to continue to lead the District’s work as we embark upon on our new strategic plan, New Trier 2030. This community has been so supportive over the past two years, and I cannot wait to continue to work with our exceptional students, parents, staff, alumni, and Township residents into the foreseeable future.”

Sally holds a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Yale University, a master’s degree in computer science from Northwestern University and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from National Louis University. He worked in software development for seven years before changing careers to education in 1992.