The Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education approved the appointment of former Pritzker College Prep administrator Chris Biddix as the district’s new director of equity and inclusion at a board meeting June 8.
Biddix will replace Dr. Patrice Payne, who accepted a position with another school district. Payne served as director for two years.
“I want to thank Dr. Patrice Payne for all that she has done on behalf of our district the past two years, and offer my best wishes for her continued success going forward,” assistant superintendent and acting superintendent Chris Covino said in a statement.
According to the district, the role of the director of equity and inclusion is to “consult, develop and provide direction in the programming, practices and systems that reinforce diversity, equity and inclusion in order to continually improve student outcomes and belongingness.”
For seven years, Biddix worked at Pritzker College Prep, a charter high school on the northwest side of Chicago, as the assistant principal of academics and instruction, manager of school culture and community engagement, and a grade level dean and math teacher.
He also spent three years as a middle school instructional teacher at Crazy Horse School and Wounded Knee District School in South Dakota, operated by the Oglala Lakota Nation.
Biddix earned his bachelor’s degree in global studies and linguistics from Liberty University, a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) from Grand Canyon University, and an education specialist degree in educational leadership and policy from Purdue University.
In a 5-1 vote, board members Catherine Greenspon, Terri Walker, Kay Gallo, Debbie Levinthal and Asma Akhras voted in favor of hiring Biddix, Jeff Waters voted against and Peggy James abstained. He received a one-year contract with a starting base salary of $112,000.
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“I am truly honored to have been selected as the new director of equity and inclusion for District 86,” Biddix said in a statement. “It is through this work that I believe we can further establish and sustain an inclusive learning environment where all students feel welcome, safe and successful.”