Glencoe’s West School is getting a new principal in 2023-24 with the departure of Jeannie Sung, who will leave the district after just one year, per a District 35 announcement.
In a late February letter to the school community, District 35 Superintendent Catherine Wang announced Sung’s resignation effective at the end of the school year so that she can attend to unexpected family needs.
Sung was hired by District 35 last year after working as the head of St. Johnsbury Academy, an international school in South Korea since 2020. Prior to that, she had varying education roles in several Chicago suburbs including being the principal at Glenview’s Westbrook Elementary School from 2017-2020.
She spoke positively of her experience in Glencoe in an email correspondence with Pioneer Press.
“District 35 is like a family,” Sung wrote. “All the members of the school community care about the well-being of one another and are always ready and willing to lend a hand when needed and join in when there are opportunities to celebrate together.”
Wang added the school district was grateful for the leadership and care Sung provided the community over the last eight months.
With Sung’s resignation, District 35 is once again seeking a principal for West School, where third and fourth graders attend.
“We are moving forward with our process to reflect and consider the next steps for the leadership transition at West School,” Wang wrote. “We seek to engage an individual who will lead West School with care and build upon our strong foundation of educational excellence. It is our hope that we may secure a candidate and allow for a transition period in the final months of the school year. I look forward to sharing updates as we move forward in the hiring process.”
Wang anticipated the Sung’s resignation would be officially approved at the March 9 District 35 school board meeting.
West has an enrollment of 256 students this year, Wang added.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.