Schools

District 308 Board Hires Two Administrators, Prepares to Hire a Third

On Monday the board hired a new assistant principal for Grande Park Elementary, promoted a new principal for Brokaw Early Learning Center from within, and prepared to hire a new top administrator.

It was a busy night for the District 308 Board on Monday, as they hired a new assistant principal, promoted a new principal from within, and approved negotiations with a new top-level administrator.

The board unanimously selected Andrew McCree, current assistant principal at Wolf’s Crossing Elementary School, as the new principal of . McCree has been at Wolf’s Crossing for the past year, and before that, served as a teacher in the Joliet Public School District.

McCree will replace Jeff Modaff, who in May, and will exit the role on June 30. Modaff is leaving to take the job of principal at Grace McWayne Elementary School in Batavia.

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McCree graduated from in 2002, and holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in leadership and administration from Benedictine University. He holds certificates in administration and early childhood, and approval in early childhood special education.

The board also unanimously hired Sean Smith as the new assistant principal at Grande Park Elementary School. Smith was chosen from a field of 84 interested candidates, district officials said. Smith will take over for Mary Weber, who has been splitting her time between Grande Park and Homestead Elementary, but will now focus on Homestead.

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Smith has been a classroom teacher in the Will County School District for eight years, and served as a long-term substitute in the Joliet Public School District for five months before that. Smith has also served as a school guidance and counseling intern, an administrative intern and president of the teacher’s union.

Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eastern Illinois University, a master’s in school guidance and counseling from Lewis University, and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of St. Francis. 

After a lengthy executive session, the board also unanimously approved entering into negotiations with a particular candidate for the role of executive director of administrative services. This is a newly-created position that will replace the assistant superintendent for administration job, and the board’s choice for the position will take over many of the duties currently performed by Todd Colvin.

Colvin , and his last day in the district is June 30. He will move on to Township High School District 214 as associate superintendent of human resources.

Board President Bill Walsh explained that the board’s decision Monday night allows him to sign a contract with the chosen candidate, whom he did not name, without convening the board for a special meeting. Incoming was involved in discussions over this candidate, and said the only difference between the new job and the old one is the title, and the salary. Executive directors typically make less than assistant superintendents, board members said.

Walsh said the board should have a final decision on that position by Thursday.


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