District 25 Superintendent Announces Retirement

District 25 will be starting the process of replacing Superintendent Sarah Jerome, who submitted her letter of retirement to the Board of Education effective June 2014.

Jerome, who has headed the district since 2006, said her early announcement will allow District 25’s process of selecting a new superintendent to be done in a thoughtful and reflective process. She posted a letter to the community outlining the steps on the district’s website.

The first step for the Board will be the selection of a search firm. This step will likely begin in March 2013. In the past, the district has held meetings with staff, parents and community members to discuss the qualities wanted in a superintendent, she said.

When the Board finds the right match and confirms the appointment, the newly appointed superintendent and I will work together to make the transition smooth. The goal is to continue the well-deserved reputation of excellence that AHSD25 has long enjoyed, Jerome said.

Under her tenure, the district has received numerous awards including National School Board Association presented the Magna Award Honorable Mention April 2011 for Global Schools – Global Focus. Several schools have received Academic Excellence Awards from the state of Illinois for consistent high performance on ISAT tests.The U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Award also recognized two schools Windsor Elementary School in 2009 and Greenbrier Elementary School in 2011.

Jerome started her career in 1967 and has taught in North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Texas and Illinois. Her accomplishments in District 25 include: 

• seeking rigorous and challenging learning for each student
• developing and implementing assessments and report cards that reflect student progress on 21st Century skills for life, refining the VISION 2020 and WIRED framework to meet the challenges of student and professional learners
• expanding the district’s focus on global citizenship
• creating nine air-conditioned schools for the learning, comfort, and well being of students and staff

“Thank you deeply and sincerely for our shared interest in learning and our collaboration in Arlington Heights to make this community the best it can be – and for your genuine and gracious hospitality,” Jerome wrote in a letter to the community. “Your professionalism and devotion to children and learning is without equal. BRAVO!”

District 25 services about 5,100 students and has nine schools providing education from K-8. Students then attend one of four high schools in Township High School District 214.