Northbrook School District 28’s school board Thursday formally confirmed Jason Pearson as its next superintendent, succeeding Larry Hewitt after his 15 years at the head of the district.
Pearson, selected from seven candidates provided by search firm School Exec Connect, will take the reins of the elementary and middle school district on July 1. Pearson comes from St. Charles School District 303, where he’s been superintendent the last four years.
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The new superintendent will enter a school district with high expectations for its new leader: a survey of educators, administrators and parents compiled by School Exec Connect called for “a proven leader with specific accomplishments, as well as being hard-working, proactive, transparent, visionary and strategic.”
Community members also identified the biggest challenges facing the district in coming years, including balancing demand for high test scores with students’ social and emotional health and fostering closer collaboration with Glenbrook High School District 225, which District 28 feeds into.
District 28’s teachers are also in the process of establishing a union after being one of the few school districts in Illinois without one, and concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in schools persist.
Most of the selection process was confidential, but Pearson, Hewitt and board president Tracy Muhl answered questions from Pioneer Press prior to Pearson’s Thursday confirmation.
Pearson emphasized the importance of students’ comfort in both and a December address to the board.
“Children have to feel safe and feel like they belong and are connected to each other and the learning that’s happening in the classroom,” Pearson said. “Once that connection is established, and you’re able to have high levels of trust and high levels of vulnerability in the classroom, I think then you’re able to provide a rigorous academic experience for students.”
According to Muhl, Pearson’s emphasis on compassion toward students in an academic environment was one of the strongest parts of his application.
Regarding community members’ concerns about District 28’s relationship with District 225, Pearson cited his experience leading a K-12 school district in St. Charles _ a trait he shared with the two other finalists for the superintendent’s job, Muhl said.
“I have a perspective and understanding of what it is that students need for success in high school, and I can also ensure that’s part of the foundation that we’re putting together for students and families that are participating in a K-8 district,” Pearson said.
District 303 is already unionized, and Pearson expressed optimism about the new union and said he expected a smooth transition to collective bargaining.
The COVID-19 pandemic is, unfortunately, something he expects the district to deal with in perpetuity, Pearson said, but he hoped the issue would be best addressed through collaboration with the school board and partnerships with county and state authorities.
Outgoing superintendent Hewitt was not a part of the interview process that selected Pearson, but he expressed confidence in the new superintendent after speaking with Pearson. The two will coordinate the transition of the superintendent’s office over the next few months.
Asked for advice he’d give to Pearson, Hewitt deferred.
“I don’t think I need to give him any wisdom,” Hewitt said. “Wisdom I would give to anybody is to listen and be yourself. And if he does that, he’ll be very successful here.”
Joshua Irvine is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.