Dear District 97 Community,
Over the past several months, the District 97 Board of Education has been engaged in a thoughtful and community-informed process to identify our next superintendent to lead our schools. We are grateful to the families, staff, students, and community members who have shared their voices along the way.
As an important next step in this process, the board is pleased to announce the finalists in our superintendent search: Dr. Terri Bresnahan and Dr. Angela Dolezal.
About the Finalists
Dr. Terri Bresnahan
Terri Bresnahan, Ed.D., is currently the superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 59, which serves portions of Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect and unincorporated Cook County.
She previously served as superintendent and assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction in Berkeley School District 87. Her prior experience also includes technology leadership roles in Park Ridge-Niles School District 64, Addison School District 4, Avoca School District 37 and River Trails School District 26. Dr. Bresnahan began her career as a middle school and elementary classroom teacher in San Bernardino, California.
Dr. Angela Dolezal
Angela Dolezal, Ed.D., is currently the Director of Teaching and Learning for Riverside School District 96.
She previously served in District 97 as principal of Longfellow Elementary School and as an elementary classroom teacher, teaching fourth and fifth grade. Earlier in her career, Dolezal taught in Bellevue Public Schools in Nebraska, working with students in third, sixth and eighth grades, and in Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia, teaching fourth and fifth grades.
Virtual Town Hall on Jan. 29
How to Watch
Community members are invited to participate in our Superintendent Finalist Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This virtual forum will introduce the finalist candidates for the superintendent position and provide our community with an opportunity to get to know them.
**Registration closes at noon today to watch the town hall live (click here to register).
- If you have already registered, the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) will email links to the Zoom webinar and feedback survey prior to the event.
- If you are unable to watch live, you can still watch and provide feedback. District 97 will share links to the recording and survey, both of which will be available through 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30.
What to Expect During the Town Hall
The town hall will be held in two parts:
- Dr. Angela Dolezal will be interviewed at 6:15 p.m.
- Dr. Terri Bresnahan will be interviewed at 7:15 p.m.
Through surveys and focus groups held this fall, families, staff and community members identified five key characteristics as priorities for the next superintendent. During the town hall:
- Each finalist will respond to two questions related to each characteristic.
- Questions will be asked in the same order as the feedback survey.
- Community members will have the opportunity to rate each area and share written comments.
The chart below is provided to help you follow along during the forum and understand the areas you will be asked to provide feedback on.
| Characteristics Sought in Superintendent | Questions |
|---|---|
| Excellent Written and Verbal Communication / Collaboration | 1 and 2 |
| Fosters a Professional Culture for Educators | 3 and 4 |
| Ensures an Inclusive, Safe, and Supportive Learning Environment | 5 and 6 |
| Promotes Equity and Advances Cultural Responsiveness | 7 and 8 |
| Develops and Supports Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment | 9 and 10 |
Board members will review community feedback as they conduct final interviews next week.
Choosing our next superintendent is one of the most important decisions the board makes, and community voice plays an essential role in this process. We appreciate your continued engagement and hope you will join us on Thursday to meet the finalists and share your feedback.
Sincerely,
District 97 Board of Education