In the summer of 2018, my family and I relocated from Colorado Springs to Illinois. Before explaining why, I want to briefly provide some context.

Having no family in Colorado before relocating there, my partner and I worked feverishly to establish a strong support system. For example, we found a church home. If we needed a sitter for our children, we knew who to call. If we needed boarding for our puppy, we also knew who to call. My daughters were fairly young but still mature enough to have forged serious friendships. We learned to navigate Colorado fairly well because we approached it as more than a temporary stop; we invested in the routines, relationships, and community connections that helped it feel like home. We absolutely adored waking up to the beautiful Pikes Peak mountains in view, whether capped with snow in the summer months or watching the sun rise behind them with a cup of coffee in hand on a Sunday morning. It was a view like none we had ever seen before. I had amazing colleagues and an incredibly strong instructional team. I learned so much from them and consider them friends to this very day. My family and I weren’t from Colorado, but we acclimated quickly.

As much as we loved Colorado, my first superintendency offer was too great an opportunity to turn down. Thus, the move to Illinois brought a mix of both excitement and anticipation. The appointment marked an important milestone in my career, but it also meant leaving the place we had grown to love and had come to call our second home.

So, in July of 2018, I began my superintendency in Illinois. My first experience as a sitting superintendent taught me many lessons, many that I still reflect on today. Though I once believed becoming a superintendent represented the pinnacle of my career, I often remind aspiring and current leaders that growth is not linear. Why is this important? Well, two years after beginning my superintendency, I had to step away. The reasons for leaving are far less important than what I learned during and afterward.

I was blessed to receive and accept an Assistant Superintendent position in Elgin, Illinois, where I spent four years learning alongside thoughtful, talented educators and leaders. That role expanded my understanding of school systems in ways I had not previously experienced. I was introduced to new dimensions of education, from understanding how lottery systems operate in magnet programs to supporting career pathways for high school students. Those experiences challenged me to think more broadly about access, opportunity, and the many conditions in and out of school that shape students’ educational experiences. These experiences also reminded me that growth often happens in unexpected places, especially when we remain open to learning from the people and systems around us. So, please remember, growth is not linear. You can learn no matter your title, and what appears as a setback is only a pause for refinement, not a regression, rejection, restriction, roadblock, or reversal. God is the author!

In July 2024, I was blessed to return to the superintendency, this time carrying with me the lessons, perspective, and humility gained from each part of my journey thus far. Returning to the role did not feel like simply picking up where I had left off; it felt like entering the work with a deeper understanding of people, systems, community, and the responsibility that comes with leadership.

Kankakee SD 111, like so many school districts across our nation, is filled with promise and possibility. I see a community rich with talent, promise, strength, and untapped potential. To have been selected by the Board of Education to serve Kankakee was and continues to be both an honor and a responsibility I do not take lightly.

My first two years at the helm have been exciting, challenging, and rewarding. In year one, we conducted several important audits, including curriculum, forensic, and human resources reviews. In year two, we began developing a five-year strategic plan and undertaking a boundary analysis. Together, these efforts have helped us build momentum, even as important work remains ahead. Our staff remains deeply invested, and I am honored to work alongside them. Our students are extraordinary. Whether they are engaging in thoughtful classroom debates, competing on athletic teams, or sharing their talents through theatre and band performances, they continue to demonstrate remarkable gifts and potential. Our community cares deeply about our students’ success, and our Board of Education remains fully committed to that shared purpose. I also remain committed to the challenging and rewarding work ahead, and I appreciate the Board’s acknowledgement of that commitment through a two-year extension, resulting in a five-year contract, the maximum allowed under Illinois School Code.

Again, I am deeply grateful for the Board’s continued trust in me and for the opportunity to keep serving Kankakee School District 111. This extension allows all of us to continue building on our momentum while staying focused on the long-term goals that will strengthen opportunities and outcomes for every student and creating a Destination District.

-Teresa A.