The Evergreen Park School District 124 Board of Education has selected Dr. Jenna Woodland as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Woodland, who will begin her tenure on July 1, 2021, is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Professional Development for Troy Community Consolidated School District 30C in Plainfield.
The selection of Dr. Woodland is the result of a nationwide search conducted with the assistance of the Illinois Association of School Boards, which produced more than 65 qualified candidates from diverse geographic and professional backgrounds. For the past five months, the Board has conducted a thorough and thoughtful candidate selection process using input from the community, school staff, and the current administration to quantify the most important characteristics desired in a superintendent.
“As always, the focus was on finding the best candidate to meet the needs of the children and families within our school district,” D124 Board President Kim Leonard said. “The Board is confident we have found an innovative and progressive leader in Dr. Woodland, who will guide our district into the future. We are extraordinarily pleased with the outcome of the search process, and we believe Dr. Woodland will fit perfectly within our district. We, as the Board of Education, look forward to working alongside her to offer a high-quality education for our students, and to ensure that D124 continues to attract, retain and develop outstanding educators.”
As a veteran educator, Dr. Woodland comes to Evergreen Park with vast experience in improvement of student learning. She has spent her entire career in Troy District 30c, previously serving as a Director of Instruction, Instructional Coach, Technology Coordinator, Assistant Principal, and as a classroom teacher.
Dr. Woodland earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Francis, as well as a Master’s in Education and Administrative Certificate from Olivet Nazarene University, and a Bachelor’s in Education from Illinois State University. In addition to her educational degrees, Dr. Woodland has also earned her Chief School Business Office Endorsement. A teacher at heart, she continues to educate students while teaching courses focused on educational technology integration at the University of St. Francis.
“I am humbled and honored to serve Evergreen Park School District 124 as the next Superintendent of Schools,” Dr. Woodland stated. “I was immediately drawn to the D124 team due to the strong foundation in community partnerships and district traditions. Joining the Evergreen Park family is one of my proudest moments. I look forward to creating a collaborative and transparent environment that involves all stakeholders in a successful educational experience for the students of Evergreen Park School District.”
As District 30c’s Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Professional Development, Dr. Woodland has helped to develop district systems aligned to best practices in academics and social and emotional learning. She oversees District 30c’s Educational Technology Integration, Preschool Programming and Family Services programs, and works to ensure that staff members receive quality professional development prior to the introduction of new programs. Dr. Woodland’s career has been marked by improved student outcomes, fiscal responsibility and accountability and access to technology to support learning for all students.
Dr. Longo and Dr. Bridges-Webb, both of whom were retired superintendents served on an interim basis for the 2020-2021 school year. They replaced former Superintendent Dr. Robert Machak, who left District 124 following the conclusion of the 2019-2020 school year.