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Board Announces Finalist for Superintendent Position
The School District U-46 Board of Education today announced that Dr. Jose M. Torres has been selected as the finalist to be the next superintendent. Dr. Torres currently serves as a regional superintendent, or Area Instruction Officer, for Area 14 in the Chicago Public Schools.
 “Dr. Torres possesses the qualities that our U-46 communities said they wanted to see in the next superintendent,” said Ken Kaczynski, president of the U-46 Board of Education. “He is the top candidate in the eyes of the entire Board of Education,” he added.
Torres brings to School District U-46 a wealth of knowledge and experience in educational leadership. In his current position, he oversees 25 schools which serve over 14,000 predominately low-income and minority students. Despite the challenges, schools under Dr. Torres’ leadership realized an 18 percent increase in composite test scores in reading, math, and science.
“I look forward to the opportunity to work with this Board of Education in continuing to build on the academic achievement that has been seen in so many U-46 schools,” said Torres. “When appointed, I will bring several core beliefs that will shape the manner in which I will lead the district, including:
1. Students learn what they’re taught and rise to the level of our expectations;
2. Parents are our partners;
3. To improve instruction, we need to improve teaching and learning through professional development;
4. Leadership and accountability are at every level of the organization; and,
5. Every member of this community shares the responsibility for successful schools.”
The U-46 Board of Education began its search last September. In January, the Board held nine community forums and conducted 55 group sessions and interviews to gather feedback on the qualities the U-46 communities want to see in the next superintendent. Another 1,320 individuals responded to online and paper surveys. The surveys and focus groups helped in guiding the Board as they developed a position profile for the next leader of U-46, which included desired traits including:
- A strong commitment to the values of public education, to the district’s children, and to the Greater U-46 community.
- Successfully met the challenges of leading a large, diverse organization dedicated to ambitious goals, high standards and continuous improvement strategies with high expectations for performance and accountability on all levels.
- Demonstrated experience in embracing and promoting diversity and working well in diverse ethnic, cultural and socio-economic communities and environments; demonstrated ability to bring diverse communities together to work for genuine equity of opportunity for all children.
- Exceptional analytical, planning and organizational skills to update and implement the District Improvement Plan and maintain a strategic direction.
- Successful experience in developing and sustaining an ethic of caring and customer service to schools, parents, and the communities served.
- Excellent communication skills to reach out, listen and effectively establish dialogue and open channels of communication with stakeholder groups: students, parents, employees, bargaining units, advocacy and community groups, government/elected officials, higher education, business and foundations.
- Willingness to be highly visible in the schools/classrooms and throughout the eleven communities served, in order to be the district’s chief spokesperson and the relentless champion and advocate for all students.
“The Board of Education focused on these qualities as we narrowed the original list of 30 candidates. After a second round of in-person interviews, the Board was convinced that Dr. Torres is the right person at the right time,” Kaczynski said.
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