Latest News

Dear District 65 Community -

At the June 22 Regular Meeting, the School Board approved the appointment of Dr. Eric Witherspoon as Interim Superintendent, effective July 1 through December 31, 2026. This appointment follows the Board's approval of a mutual separation agreement with Superintendent Dr. Angel Turner who will continue to serve through June 30, 2026.

Dr. Witherspoon is a veteran educational leader with more than four decades of experience as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. He served as Superintendent of Evanston Township High School from 2006 until his retirement in 2022, becoming one of the longest-serving superintendents in the school's history. Prior to ETHS, he served as superintendent in Des Moines, Iowa; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Hobart, Indiana.

Throughout his career, Dr. Witherspoon has been recognized for his commitment to educational excellence, equity, and student success. During his tenure at ETHS, he led significant academic, operational, and facilities initiatives while maintaining strong financial stewardship, including balanced budgets, rebuilding reserves, and earning the district's highest-ever Moody's Aaa bond rating.

As a longtime member of the Evanston community, Dr. Witherspoon brings deep familiarity with the students, families, schools, and community partners that make Evanston/Skokie unique. His extensive leadership experience and longstanding relationships across the community provide valuable continuity and insight as he supports the district during this transition. We are grateful to Dr. Witherspoon for his willingness to serve and for his unwavering commitment to public education and the Evanston/Skokie community. 

We look forward to immediately launching a public, transparent search process for the district’s permanent superintendent and one that is representative of stakeholders across our community. A more detailed timeline will be shared in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Board intends to begin the process by issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a superintendent search firm.

We’re excited about the opportunity to bring aboard a new leader to shape the future of Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and will continue to provide updates to our community as this process unfolds. Thank you for your partnership and continued support of our school district.

 

Nichole Pinkard, Ph.D., Board President
Chris Van Nostrand, Board Vice President