At its May 9 regular meeting, members of the Oak Park District 97 school board unanimously approved the promotion of Eboney Lofton to replace Mike Padavic as the district’s senior director of special services.
Padavic will retire at the end of the 2016-17 school year after having served in the position for eight years, according to a statement released by the district. Lofton will start her new position on July 1. She’ll be paid a base salary of $128,251.
“I want to thank Mike Padavic for his passionate and dedicated service to our district and community during the past eight years, and wish him the best in his retirement,” Superintendent Carol Kelley said in a statement.
The new job is a promotion for Lofton, who was hired by District 97 in 2016 as director of special education, a position for which the district is currently accepting applications.
“Based on the exceptional job she has done since joining the district last year,” Kelley said, “I am confident Eboney will excel in this new role and help advance our vision of creating a positive learning environment for all students that is equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child.”
Before she was hired at District 97, Lofton served in various capacities with Chicago Public Schools, where she worked for 17 years. From 2011 until 2016, Lofton was executive director of specially designed instruction for CPS. Between 1999 and 2009, Lofton was an elementary school teacher and school psychologist.
Lofton obtained her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern Illinois University. She also has a master’s degree in education and an education specialist degree in school psychology from National Louis University, where she’s currently completing a doctorate degree in educational psychology.
“I am incredibly excited about this appointment, and am eager to build upon the outstanding efforts we have undertaken with our staff, parents/guardians and community to support the growth, development and learning of children with special needs,” said Lofton, who also thanked Kelley for “this tremendous opportunity” and Padavic “for his valuable leadership and guidance during the past year.”
CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com