I am honored and excited to be the new Superintendent of Oakland CUSD #5. Having grown up in the area and lived here almost my whole life I am well aware of the quality of education and programs that Oakland schools offer their students. I am also impressed with the support the communities of the district provide for both the schools and the students.I currently reside in Newman with my wife Annette and daughter Jordan who is a senior at Shioh HS.  Our oldest daughter, Lyndsey, lives in Carbondale and is a senior in Early Childhood Education.  I grew up in Villa Grove and graduated from Villa Grove High School.  I remember playing Oakland HS in both football and basketball in the mid-80's when Oakland fielded very good teams in both of the sports.  Upon graduation from high school, I went on to the University of Illinois where I earned a degree in Economics.  I later attended the University of Illinois Springfield where I earned my teacher certification.

I taught junior high social studies in Tuscola.  While in Tuscola, I also coached high school football, junior high basketball, and high school track and field.  Between teaching during the day and coaching after school, I found time, primarily on the weekends, to earn my administrative certificate.  After nine years in Tuscola, I decided it was time to take on new challenges and utilize my newly earned certificate.  In 2005, I was hired to be the PreK-8 principal for Atwood-Hammond Elementary School.  A few of my proudest accomplishments while at A-H include; an improvement in students’ attitudes toward education as well as school and community pride, continuous evaluation of the curriculum with the support of the staff to identify and address students’ needs, and making AYP in both reading and math all six years.

By working with students, staff, and parents, I hope together we can all experience that same type of success here in the Oakland schools.  It is my goal, along with the principals and teaching staff, to evaluate our curriculum and method of instruction in order make decisions that will improve student achievement.  I feel that it is also important for us to identify technology that will help teachers connect what is being taught with students learning styles.  Although the use of technology is just one way to help students learn, I personally feel that it is currently under-utilized and has unlimited possibilities.

Again, I am excited to be a part of your school system and encourage you to feel free contact me if you ever have any questions and/or concerns.

GO TITANS!