Community High School District 128 approved the contract of a new superintendent Monday evening, who will replace the retiring Prentiss Lea on July 1, officials at the meeting said.
Denise Herrmann was unanimously approved as the fifth superintendent of D128, a release from the district states. Currently, she works as Associate Superintendent for Learning and Teaching in St. Charles, Illinois In her career, she has worked as a chemistry teacher, science department chair, as well as an assistant principal. She also has worked as a principal at two separate schools, the release states.
“I am both excited and honored to join (District 128) and the Libertyville and Vernon Hills communities,” Herrmann stated in the release. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead D128 and to become an active member of the community.”
Along with her other work, she has worked as the Superintendent of Roseville Joint Union High School District in Roseville, Cali., where she oversaw more than 10,000 students across several schools, the release states. As Assistant Superintendent for Instruction at Fremont Unified School District in Fremont, Cali., she oversaw 36,000 students across 42 sites, officials said.
Contract specifics provided by the district state her annual salary for the 2021-2022 school year will be $255,000. The contract states it will last until 2024. In addition, she is eligible for a bonus of 1.5% paid annually in December if the students meet certain academic bench marks, the contract shows. She will become eligible for the bonus in December 2022.
Board President Pat Groody at the meeting gave her high praise, saying after a consulting firm helped the district screen 35 candidates, eight were formally interviewed by the district. Of those, Groody said three rose above the rest. In announcing Herrmann, he said the best word to describe the hire was “exciting.” In total, the search for a new superintendent took roughly two months, officials said.
“Her past experiences at some of the nation’s finest schools combined with her enthusiasm, outstanding leadership qualities and passion for educating students make her a great person to lead our district,” Groody said in the release.
After the vote was final, board members gave Herrmann a congratulatory round of applause.
Herrmann has a bachelors of science in chemistry, a masters of science in analytical chemistry, and a doctorate in education administration and curriculum leadership from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, the release states. During the meeting, Groody said she received her superintendent’s certificate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Herrmann has two daughters and eight grandchildren, the release states. After working in multiple states, she said in the release that she is thrilled to be back in Illinois to spend more time with friends and family.
“Dr. Herrmann is a gifted and proven education leader … and she is absolutely the right person to lead and work with the D128 family to take the district to the next level,” Lea said in the release.