Oswego-based School District 308 Superintendent John Sparlin has announced he will retire at the end of this school year.
The school board accepted the superintendent’s letter stating his intent to retire as part of a personnel report on Monday night. Following approval of his plans to retire, a district statement was released.
Sparlin has served at the helm for seven of the 11 years he has worked for District 308. In a statement, he praised students and staff for their academic efforts.
“We have an incredible number of students who receive the highest honors available to Illinois students every year. Our schools are filled with alumni who have come back to our community to teach and work in the schools they attended as kids, and we have a staff that goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that all of our kids are cared for, educated and feel loved,” Sparlin said.
District 308 faced many issues in his years as superintendent, he said.
“We’ve had many challenges to overcome, from redrawing boundaries, to many years of budget issues, to multiple referendums and most recently, a pandemic. Throughout all of these challenges we have always kept our focus on the students and academic excellence,” Sparlin said.
Sparlin previously held positions as associate superintendent and assistant superintendent of administrative services in District 308.
He began his educational career in 1993 as a junior high teacher and coach, and then high school teacher and coach. His first administrative position was serving as a dean of students at Glenbard South High School in Glen Ellyn and then as assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Bolingbrook High School.
He also served as principal at Humphrey Middle School in Bolingbrook and Romeoville High School and then became executive director of Human Resources in the Sterling Morton High School District.
“I feel very fortunate to have served in a community where people come together to celebrate, as well as a place where people come together to embrace and to lift each other up when needed,” Sparlin said of District 308. “I have always said if we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.”
Sparlin has indicated that he will continue working in some capacity of education after retirement, but in a role that will allow for him to have more time with his family.
“Leading a district with 23 schools serving over 17,000 students is oftentimes a 24/7 commitment, one which I have sincerely enjoyed for many years,” Sparlin said.
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The school board released a statement following Monday night’s meeting concerning Sparlin’s upcoming retirement.
School Board President LaTonya Simelton in the statement said they have begun to engage in discussions regarding the process and timeline for recruitment of the next superintendent. Simelton said students, staff, parents and the extended community will have opportunities to provide input and be involved in the search process.
The school board plans to share how the school community will be able to provide feedback in the search process for a new superintendent when the board meets Jan. 23.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.