Sara Schnoor, the incoming principal at Churchill School, said she’ll look at the “big picture” of education and work to bring it into the daily routine of the Homewood school.
Sara Schnoor, the incoming principal at Churchill School, said she’ll look at the “big picture” of education and work to bring it into the daily routine of the Homewood school.
Schnoor’s appointment was approved by the District 153 school board with a salary of $115,000 at its Monday, March 16, board meeting. She will start with the district July 1.
Schnoor is now assistant principal at Central Middle School in Tinley Park. She previously was a principal in Prescott Valley, Arizona, and an assistant principal in Greenville, South Carolina.
Originally from Davenport, Iowa, Schnoor received a bachelor’s degree in performance and music education at Lawrence University in Wisconsin, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Clemson University and is completing a Ph.D. in educational leadership with an emphasis on social justice from New Mexico State University.
She did her student teaching in Chicago and then moved to South Carolina where she started her teaching career. After several years in the classroom, she moved in to school administration.
“Music does and will always hold a special place in my heart,” she said. “I still play the cello. However, I think what fuels my passion and purpose in life right now is being a school leader.
“A lot of what I do in my role is looking for opportunities to create more equitable opportunities for students. That’s really exciting me.”
Schnoor said while her Ph.D. studies are examining major issues, she wants to bring those overarching discussion topics into the school.
“I think it’s the big picture ideal of what you hope schools offer students and their families in order for them to go on and be successful in life, but it’s also finding ways to translate that big vision for education into practical day-to-day activities that happen in the classroom,” she said.
“Some of what that is is just high quality teaching and learning happening in the school, but probably most important is creating these strong and wonderful connections between students and teachers and family and community and making sure that it’s a welcoming and friendly place where people are really excited and joyful about learning,” she added.
Schnoor is replacing Nikki Kerr, who resigned the principal’s position. Kerr will continue in that role through June and transition to a new role with District 153. The board named her to the new Academic Innovation Administrator position it approved at the board meeting.
The job description calls for Kerr to serve the district’s schools by “ensuring continuous improvement in English/Language Arts, diversity and equity, recruitment, crisis planning and professional development.”
Kerr has been with District 153 for 17 years.
