Schools

Oswego 308 Hires Four New District Administrators

All four administrators have been hired to the Department of Teaching and Learning.

Four new Oswego 308 district administrators have been hired to the Department of Teaching and Learning in accordance with the district's new vision of the organizational chart.

The new administrators are: Lisa Smith, Ed.D. as the director of elementary education, Edsel Clark, Ed.D. as the director of secondary education, Amanda Clark as the director of special programs and Kellie Sanders, Ed.D. as the director of professional development and training.

The directors will begin their positions on July 1. 

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Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith, currently the assistant superintendent for human resources in Downers Grove District 99, will serve 308 as the Director of Elementary Education.

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Smith has served at Downers Grove since 2009 and prior her was employed at Elmhurst District 205 for six years where she served as an elementary principal for two years before being promoted to assistant superintendent for personnel.

From 1996 to 2003 Smith was a principal in Community Consolidated School District 146 in Tinley Park and she began her career as an intermediate grade classroom teacher in Dubuque, Iowa. Smith currently resides in Bloomingdale.

Smith earned her doctorate in educational administration from Aurora University, her master’s degree in education administration from Loras College and her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from William Penn College.

“Dr. Smith’s depth of educational experience with students from birth through high school will be a valuable resource as she works with principals and staff from early childhood, elementary, and junior high schools in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment,” said Judith Minor, Oswego 308's new Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. “Being both a building and district educational leader, she is also well versed in applications of the new Illinois teacher appraisal model.”

Edsel Clark

After working for the past year as the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning at LaSalle-Peru Township High School District 120, Edsel Clark will join Oswego 308 as the Director of Secondary Education.

Clark has worked extensively in the area, serving Indian Prairie 204 students as an assistant principal at Metea Valley High School from 2009 to 2012, Glenbard High School District 87 students as a math teacher (2006-07) and department chairperson (2007-09), and Naperville 203 as a math  teacher from 2000 to 2006. He also has experience in coaching as well as academic contributions to vast number of professional organizations.

Clark serves as an adjunct faculty member at Olivet Nazarene University. He received his doctorate at Aurora University in educational leadership and administration, his master’s degree in educational leadership from Benedictine University and his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois. Clark is a resident of Aurora.

“[As] a former mathematics chair, his expertise in mathematics education will be especially valued given the ongoing curriculum alignment to the new Common Core State Standards and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiatives," said Minor.

Amanda Clark

Amanda Clark, current principal at Frederick Nerge Elementary School in Schaumburg 54, will assume the position of Director of Special Programs in Oswego 308.

Clark has been with Schaumburg since 2009, serving one year as an assistant principal and three as principal. Prior to Schaumburg, Clark worked in Decatur Public School District 61 as a principal for five years and also served students in Mt. Zion Community Unit School District 3 as a gifted coordinator (2002-04), and as a math teacher in District 61 (1995-02) and Jacksonville School District (1994-95).

Clark received her master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Illinois and her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Illinois State University.

“Ms. Clark brings a wealth of experience as a principal for elementary, middle and magnet schools,” said Minor. “Both a former coordinator of gifted education as well as an English Language Learner (ELL) director, she is committed to exposing all students to the most rigorous levels of curriculum in all content areas through the development of higher level critical thinking skills."

Kellie Sanders

Kellie Sanders, a current principal at Plainfield 202, will join Oswego 308 in the new position of Director of Professional Development and Training. 

An experienced professional development facilitator, Sanders has presented before numerous groups and written a number of publications and papers on various educational topics. While working in Plainfield, Sanders also served as an adjunct professor at North Central College for a semester, coaching future leaders on professional learning communities. Sanders also served as a principal in Elmhurst from 2005-07, DeKalb from 2003-05 and Rockford from 2002-03. Prior to her principalships, Sanders served as a health instructor in three Rockford schools.

Sanders, an Aurora resident, earned her doctorate in educational administration from Aurora University and both her master’s degree in educational administration and bachelor’s degree in health education from Northern Illinois University.   

“Dr. Sanders’ wealth of teaching and learning experiences as a principal, adjunct professor, and professional development facilitator will serve her well in her new role,” said Minor.


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