Greg Johnson will replace Phil Prale as District 200’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction starting July 1.
During a Feb. 23 regular meeting, the Oak Park and River Forest High School board unanimously approved the hiring of Gregory Johnson as the new assistant superintendent. Johnson will replace Phil Prale in that role on July 1. Prale is retiring after serving in the position for 13 years.
Johnson has served as principal of Centennial High School in Champaign, Illinois since 2010. The school serves 1,500 students, roughly 40 percent of whom are white, 35 percent of whom are black, 11 percent of whom are Asian and 8 percent of whom are Hispanic.
“The school is also economically diverse, with about half of its families qualifying as low income,” according to a statement the district released on Johnson’s hiring last week.
District officials said that Johnson was chosen from a pool of nearly 36 candidates. He has prior experience in “course-team collaboration, curriculum development, standards-based grading, Equal Opportunity Schools implementation, and professional development,” the district’s statement reads.
“Greg not only has a great deal of experience in curriculum development tied to improved student outcomes, but he also has a true passion for the work,” said D200 Supt. Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams. “He will be an asset to the district as we work toward achieving equity and excellence for all students.”
Johnson spent nine years as an English teacher at the high school where he is a principal. He’s currently working on a Ph.D. in educational policy, organization, and leadership at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he obtained an undergraduate degree in secondary English education and a master’s degree in educational administration. He anticipates completing the doctorate’s program next year.
The district has not yet provided information on the details of Johnson’s contract.
CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com