Shortly after Superintendent Dana Smith announced he will step down at the end of the 2025–2026 school year, the Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education began laying out its plan to find his replacement.

Smith made the announcement during the Feb. 10 board meeting and confirmed it in a Feb. 13 letter to the community. He has served as superintendent since 2017, a tenure of nine years. He has been hired as the next superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 15 in Palatine.

“Serving this school community has been an extraordinary privilege,” Smith wrote. “This chapter comes to a close with a great amount of gratitude and pride in all that we have accomplished together.”

Board President David Linnear said board members “were aware he had been exploring other opportunities,” Linnear said. “This did not come as a surprise to the board.”

What happens next

The board will hear presentations from several executive search firms at its Feb. 23 meeting.

The firm selected will help the board recruit candidates and gather community feedback.

“We have invited search firms to present so we can better understand our options and start the process,” Linnear said.

The goal is to select a firm by April and move forward from there.

The board plans to conduct a broad search open to all qualified candidates. Linnear said that includes considering both a full-time superintendent and the possibility of appointing an interim.

“We are considering all options,” he said. “The search firm will help guide us based on timing, candidate availability, and district needs.”

Internal candidates will also be evaluated as part of that process.

In a Feb. 16 letter to families, staff, and community members, Linnear called the transition “a pivotal moment” for the district and said the board is energized by the opportunity to welcome new leadership.

Once a search firm is selected, the board expects to gather feedback from families, staff, students, and community members through surveys and other public engagement efforts.

“Stakeholder engagement will be a key part of the process,” Linnear said.

What the board is looking for

Linnear said the board is looking for an experienced leader who puts students first and can communicate clearly, manage district finances responsibly and build strong relationships in the community.

“The ideal candidate will be collaborative and transparent, and focused on preparing our students for success,” he said.

He added that the board is looking for someone who understands districts like School District 161 and the diversity of the community.

Linnear also said the board is exploring whether it could partner with Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 during the transition, potentially sharing services or leveraging support as the search moves forward.

Linnear said nothing currently in place is expected to change during the transition, including standards-based grading and ongoing instructional and facilities planning.

“We do not anticipate any disruption to district initiatives,” he said.