JTHS, Valley View districts have new superintendents

• Reprints

Cheryl McCarthy (right), the former assistant superintendent of educational services for Joliet Township High School District, replaces Paul Swanstrom, the former superintendent. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 16, 2011 1:36AM

ROMEOVILLE — On the last day of school in Valley View School District, Superintendent Phil Schoffstall was packed up and ready to let James Mitchem Jr. move into his office two weeks before his contract ended.

“I told him you need to be in this chair,” Schoffstall said as he sat in his office with Post-it notes with X’s to indicate the drawers were empty.

Over at Joliet Township High School District, there were partially filled boxes, but Superintendent Paul Swanstrom didn’t want to throw anything out until his assistant superintendent, Cheryl McCarthy, decided what she wanted to keep.

At many school districts, old and new superintendents are like two ships passing in the night, but at Valley View and JTHS, the outgoing captains have mentored the new leaders and helped them get up to speed.

Viable candidate

Schoffstall picked Mitchem to lead Bolingbrook High School, transferring him from Romeoville High School where he was principal 2002-2006.

A couple of years ago, Schoffstall encouraged Mitchem to get his superintendent certificate and doctorate in order to be ready to lead not only the high school, but all 18,000 students.

“I told him, ‘You need to be ready because you would be a very strong, viable candidate. … You’ve grown up here. You know the district. You know the people,” Schoffstall said about Mitchem’s career that started in 1980 in Valley View.

Mitchem recalled that conversation.

“He said, ‘You’re underestimating yourself. You can be a superintendent, particularly in this district,’” Mitchem said.

Mitchem eventually took Schoffstall’s words to heart and started his doctorate work at Argosy University in June 2009. When Schoffstall announced his retirement last year, Mitchem picked up the pace. He finished three years of coursework in two years. He plans to finish his dissertation on the achievement gap between white students and minorities in September. He will graduate in the fall. He has already received his superintendent certificate.

Solid structure

Swanstrom moved McCarthy up the ranks from principal at Joliet West High School to assistant superintendent for educational services in July 2009. He also recommended to the board that McCarthy be the one to fill his shoes.

McCarthy, who graduated from Romeoville High School, had been at Joliet West her entire career. She started in 1986 as a math teacher until 1996 when she was promoted to division chair of the math and sciences department. In 2001, she served as assistant principal for support operations before moving up as principal in 2002.

Swanstrom spent the last school year taking McCarthy to key educational meetings locally and statewide to keep those lines of communication open. Since Swanstrom’s style of management is to include his assistant superintendents in key decisions, McCarthy not only knows the plans for the future, but has already been part of the decision-making progress, including the five-year strategic plan.

“All of the initiatives that we have undertaken to get where we are today — Cheryl has been part of that,” Swanstrom said.

“I am confident that she will not only continue to provide leadership in those initiatives in which we have engaged over the past nine years, but will bring her own focus and leadership to the district’s curricular and academic challenges and provide an even brighter future for our students and the communities we serve,” Swanstrom said.

McCarthy said working side by side with Swanstrom has been invaluable and she feels fortunate to have learned from such a great leader who is also her friend. She said the most important piece of advice that Swanstrom has given her is to make sure that all decisions are based on what is best for students

At the district’s administrative retreat in June, McCarthy was already getting the wheels in motion, developing action plans for the coming school year.

Leaving behind a legacy

Swanstrom retired after serving nine years at the helm of Joliet Township High School District. His highlights include the relationships the district built with the community, the new facilities and the academy structure that offers a small-learning environment within a large-school setting.

“I think moving to the academy structure is a highlight because that is so focused on trying to create an environment where kids better understand what they’re learning and why they’re learning it,” he said.

During his term, the district opened up a new cafeteria and 48 classrooms at Joliet West and an annex at Joliet Central as well as adding air conditioning to the school. The community passed a referendum to build the two field houses that then brought back two sports teams. The district also moved its offices to a centralized location, which opened up more classroom space at Joliet Central. The district is currently moving its bus barn to a central location.

Swanstrom said it’s a good time for a change in leadership, saying the structure or bones are in place and now it’s time to put flesh on those bones.

Schoffstall has no retirement plans, but Swanstrom will do legislative work for the Illinois High School Organization. He also plans to work as a consultant helping other school districts with strategic planning for Cambrin Associates, which is the company that the district had hired for their strategic planning.

Early start

Last October, the transition began in Valley View, allowing Mitchem to get almost four years of change in a three-year contract that officially began July 1.

“I don’t have to spend time learning the organization before we can start to implement change. I know the organization so therefore we are able to kind of hit the ground running,” Mitchem said.

Schoffstall said it was important that Mitchem made decisions that would affect his superintendency.

“Anything that had implications for the next school year, we’ve tried to shift to him because he’s the one who will have to explain it, defend it and implement it,” said Schoffstall, adding he’d always offered advice on what he would do, but left the decision up to Mitchem.

In February, Mitchem laid out his plans for the future in front of staff at a districtwide meeting. He told them that there will be more resources and interventions for students in grades K-3. He also said that students must be proficient before being promoted. Mitchem said it is critical that third-graders are at grade level before moving to fourth grade. Research shows that third-grade reading proficiency influences later achievement, including graduation and test scores.

Mitchem said Schoffstall has been one of his biggest advocates and he has learned a lot from him.

“I never see him lose his cool ever. He always remains professional and objective,” Mitchem said. “He doesn’t make snap quick decisions. He researches everything thoroughly.”

Schoffstall has served as Valley View’s leader since July 1, 2003, replacing David VanWinkle, who was superintendent for nine years. In his eight years at Valley View, Schoffstall has seen the district grow from 14,000 students to 18,000.

Schoffstall restructured the school district so the focus was more student-centered rather than making decisions that were convenient for adults. For example, the district used to hire a bus company to transport special education and bilingual students even though Valley View has its own transportation facility.

Under his helm, Schoffstall put seat belts on buses. He encouraged principals and teachers to be creative and innovative. He oversaw the creation of an early childhood learning center and three new schools in addition to remodeling every school to make sure there was room for music, art, P.E. and bilingual and special education programs.

Now it’s time for a new leader and that’s why Schoffstall was eager for Mitchem to move into his new office on the last day of school.

“We have had plenty of time to work together and communicate,” Schoffstall said. “There hasn’t been any need for last minute conversations or last minute plans. We’ve talked all year. That in itself has been helpful. … It’s been very productive. It’s been a smooth transition.”

Comment on this story

www.heraldnewsonline.com