Two interim superintendents have been hired to provide transitional leadership for Evergreen Park School District 124 in the 2020-2021 school year.

During its Monday, May 11 meeting, the D124 Board of Education unanimously voted to approve the contracts of Dr. Lela A.Bridges-Webb and former Central Junior High Principal Dr. Margaret W. Longo. The two retired superintendents – who have shared interim superintendent responsibilities in two other districts – will split D124’s job duties throughout the school year as, per state law, each retired employee is only permitted to work 120 days each school year.

Board President Kim Leonard said she is excited to welcome the two experienced educational leaders into District 124.

“I am thrilled that we were able to hire two veteran educators who are fully prepared to lead us during the challenging times that undoubtedly lie ahead,” Leonard said. “Both the transition of the superintendency and the hurdles related to COVID-19 will require bright minds leading the way, and I am fully confident that we found the right people to lead us down our new path.”

Longo will be returning to D124 after serving as the principal at CMS from 1990-2003. During her tenure, Central was awarded the National Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. She moved on from Central in 2003 to become the superintendent of Puffer Hefty Elementary School District 69 in Downers Grove, and later was hired as the superintendent of Forest Ridge Elementary School District 142, a position she held for eight years until her retirement in 2013. Since then, Longo has been working as an interim superintendent for school districts in Illinois. 

“It is a privilege and honor to return to 124 to serve as an interim superintendent,” Longo said. “When reflecting upon my career, I consider my years in Evergreen Park as some of the most rewarding. The Board, the staff, parents, and the community have always been supportive and engaged in the schools. The children are always at the center of every decision made and the intense focus on excellence is evidenced through the children's academic and social-emotional success. I most look forward to continuing the initiatives which have made the district a success while creating new opportunities for the future.”

Like her counterpart, Dr. Bridges-Webb has served as an interim superintendent for a variety of districts across the state. When she retired from Harvey District 152 in 2010, she was the longest sitting African-American female superintendent in the state of Illinois.

Dr. Bridges-Webb said she’s looking forward to the opportunity to work in D124. She is eager to learn more about the district and, thus far, everything she has heard makes the fit “feel right."

“There are so many things happening in District 124 that are not occurring in other districts I have worked with. I am very excited to keep learning more, and to use my experience to make a positive impact in the district moving forward.”

The two interim superintendents were hired to replace Dr. Robert Machak, who will be leaving the District after 8  years of successful leadership at the end of June. The D124 Board of Education and the Illinois State Board of Education’s Executive Search Committee will work together to search for a permanent superintendent in the coming months.

Se ha contratado a dos superintendentes interinos para brindar el liderazgo de transición del ciclo escolar 2020-2021 en el Distrito 124.

Durante su junta del 11 de mayo, el Consejo Escolar votó unánimemente para aprobar los contratos de la   Dra. Lela A.Bridges-Webb y la exdirectora de Central Junior High Dr. Margaret W. Longo. Las dos superintendentes retiradas- quienes han compartido responsabilidades interinas en otros dos distritos- se dividirán las obligaciones del trabajo en D124 a lo largo del ciclo escolar, ya que, por ley, un empleado jubilado solo tiene permitido trabajar 120 días cada ciclo escolar.  

La Presidente del Consejo Kim Leonard dijo que le da mucho gusto darles la bienvenida a dos experimentadas líderes educativas dentro del Distrito 124.

“Estoy encantada de poder contratar a dos educadoras veteranas quienes están completamente preparadas para guiarnos durante estos tiempos desafiantes que sin duda tendremos por delante,” dijo Leonard. Tanto la transición de la superintendencia, como los obstáculos relacionados con  COVID-19 requerirán mentes brillantes para guiarnos en nuestro nuevo camino.”

Longo regresará al D124 después de haber servido como directora en CMS de 1990-2003. Durante su estancia, Central fue premiado con el  National Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. Ella salió de Central en 2003 para convertirse en superintendente de Puffer Hefty Elementary School District 69 en Downers Grove, y después fue contratada como superintendente en  Forest Ridge Elementary School District 142, puesto que mantuvo por ocho años hasta su jubilación en  2013. Desde entonces, Longo ha estado trabajando como superintendente interina en distritos escolares dentro de Illinois. 

“Es un privilegio y un honor regresar al 124 para servir como superintendente interina,” dijo Longo. “Cuando reflexiono sobre mi carrera, yo considero mis años en Evergreen Park como unos de los más gratificantes. El Consejo, el personal, los padres y la comunidad siempre han sido muy solidarios y han estado involucrados en las escuelas. Los niños siempre están en el centro de cada decisión tomada y el intenso enfoque en la excelencia es evidenciado a través del éxito académico y socioemocional de los estudiantes. Yo espero gustosa continuar las iniciativas que han hecho del distrito un éxito al crear nuevas oportunidades para el futuro.”

Así como su compañera, la Dr. Bridges-Webb ha servido como superintendente interina en varios distritos escolares del Estado. Cuando se jubiló del Distrito 152 de Harvey en 2010, ella había sido la mujer afroamericana que había durado más tiempo como superintendente en el Estado de Illinois.

Dr. Bridges-Webb dijo que espera gustosa la oportunidad de trabajar en D124. Ella está ansiosa por aprender más sobre el distrito y, hasta ahora, todo lo que ha escuchado hace que el ajuste se “sienta bien”.

“Hay muchas cosas que ocurren en el Distrito 124 que no ocurren en otros distritos en los que he trabajado. Me da mucho gusto seguir aprendiendo más, y usar mi experiencia para hacer un impacto positivo dentro del distrito.”

Las dos superintendentes interinas fueron contratadas para reemplazar a Dr. Robert Machak, quien dejará el Distrito después de 8 años de exitoso liderazgo a fines de junio. El Consejo Escolar del D124 y el Comité Ejecutivo de Búsqueda del Consejo Escolar de Illinois trabajarán juntos para buscar a un superintendente permanente en los próximos meses.