D135 Board Chose Superintendent Candidate

Orland School District 135’s choice for superintendent is coming from Hinsdale to take over in Orland.

Dr. Janet Stutz, who has worked as the Community Consolidated School District 181's assistant superintendent of learning since 2008, was selected by the D135 school board for the role, according to an announcement made Thursday by D135.

"I think D135 has an excellent reputation," Stutz said Thursday. "We've lived in Aurora for 26 years, our kids are grown and we're ready for a change. It's a wonderful opportunity and we're excited about it."

Prior to her work with D181, Stutz served as assistant principal and principal at schools in Yorkville and Oswego, including overseeing the opening of Homestead Elementary and Bednarcik Junior High within Oswego Community Unit School District 308.

With D181, she has worked to revamp technology use in classes, as well as infrastructure and worked to align with Common Core State Standards, according to the announcement.

"I see Common Core as a big opportunity," Stutz said Thursday. "We have to focus on where kids will be in 10 years. The jobs we currently know of today won’t be the same 10 years down the road."

Stutz has also worked heavily in differentiation, an effort to address students' varied needs within the same class.

Attached is a Powerpoint presentation Stutz made to the D181 board earlier in the year.

Her education includes a Bachelor’s in education from Elmhurst College. Stutz also earned a Master’s in educational leadership and a Doctorate in educational administration from Aurora University.

The board is scheduled to make the official vote on Stutz’s appointment at the Jan. 14, 2013 meeting. A meet and greet will be scheduled before the meeting for parents to meet Stutz.

Stutz will begin as superintendent on July 1, 2013, pending the board's final approval.

Questions about what led to the board's decision were not answered Thursday by D135 board president John Carmody and board vice president Ann Gentile, who also functions as the board's spokesperson.

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