Dale Mitchell, superintendent of Homewood School District 153 for the last 14 years, has announced his retirement after the 2020-21 academic year.
Dale Mitchell, superintendent of Homewood School District 153 for the last 14 years, has announced his retirement after the 2020-21 academic year.
“I am pleased that the board has extended my contract for another four years,” Mitchell said in a Wednesday press release from the school district. “But then, it will be the right time for me and my family to move on to the next phase of our lives.”
A 23-year district employee, Mitchell says he looks forward to working with the board, staff, administrators and parents over the next four years to make Homewood public schools the best they can be and ensure a smooth transition in leadership.
“There’s so much work to do over the next four years,” he said. “We must never let up on our efforts to make sure our schools and our teaching gets better and better.”
Mitchell said District 153 will embark on an inclusive long-range planning process this fall to develop a blueprint for the district’s future.
Board of Education President Shelly Marks said the school board is very grateful for Mitchell’s leadership.
Marks said Mitchell deserves much of the credit for the smooth transition to grade centers in 2002, successful funding referendums in 2011 and 2016, and the effective consolidation of schools this past school year.
“Because Dale is so widely respected by the board, staff, students and community, he has been able to lead in the best interests of our students,” Marks said. “Even during challenging times, he never stops looking for ways to improve our schools.
“This community will never be able to thank him enough.”
Given Mitchell’s status in the community, finding the next superintendent will be a daunting task, Marks said.
“However, District 153 has a long history of putting in place thoughtful and deliberate plans and people in times of transition,” she said. “It will be no different this time around.”