The District 90 Board of Education announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas Hagerman as its new superintendent Monday night. Hagerman, who currently is in his fourth year as superintendent of the Riverdale District in Portland, Ore., was selected after a nationwide search from a field of nearly 50 applicants.
Hagerman, who will assume his new post on July 1, holds a doctorate in Policy, Organization and Management from the University of Oregon, and previously worked as a middle school principal and a language arts teacher.
Contacted by phone Tuesday, Hagerman, who turns 39 this April, said that while it will be difficult to say good-bye to the area he’s called home since arriving for undergraduate school 20 years ago, he’s “extremely excited” by his new opportunity.
“I couldn’t have found a district that’s more aligned with who I am as an educator,” he said.
The two-school Riverdale district is smaller than Dist. 90; its high school population is “in the 200s” and its grade/middle school population is currently 320. The high school program is currently ranked #1 in the state, its middle school (6th-8th grades) is ranked #2 and its grade school (3rd through 5th grades) is ranked #7.
River Forest’s school board members clearly share Hagerman’s excitement. “We feel really good about this hire,” board President Ron Atkins said Tuesday. “We feel his attributes are just a wonderful match for us.”
“We are absolutely thrilled,” said personnel committee chair Juliann Geldner. “All the recommendations were absolutely glowing.”
Echoing both Hagerman and Atkins, Geldner said she was most excited by the similarities between the Riverdale and River Forest school systems’ traditions of excellence, the symmetry between Hagerman’s personal and professional attributes, and the goals and desires of the district’s leadership and parents.
“His experience, strengths and talents are a strong match for the attributes the district desires in their new superintendent.”
Atkins suggested Tuesday that Hagerman’s appointment marks the beginning of a new era of excellence in the River Forest schools.
“We looked at what a great leader Tyra Manning was, and is,” Atkins said of the template used in their search. He expects Hagerman to continue that tradition of excellence.
“This guy is the next wave,” said Atkins.
The next step is to introduce Hagerman to the River Forest community and district staff.
“I hope to have a trip in April, May and even June,” said Hagerman. Interim Supt. David Bonnette said he would be working to schedule and coordinate those visits.
“We’ll work with the PTOs and community groups to schedule meetings,” said Bonnette.
Hagerman’s appointment concludes a search process that began nearly eight months ago and involved a wide range of stakeholders. Geldner expressed appreciation Monday night for the diligent efforts of the many people who took part in the search process, from staff and parent focus groups to a “confidential committee” that interviewed the three finalists for the position.
Atkins singled out Bonnette for praise, calling him “outstanding in every way.” As a retired educator, Bonnette could work only 120 days over his one-year contract, Atkins noted, yet he always remained an available asset to the school board as needed.