News Releases
New Superintendent Named for Community Consolidated School District 15
Robert A. McKanna, Ed.D., currently superintendent of schools at Warren Township High School District 121 in Gurnee, has been named new superintendent by the Community Consolidated School District 15 Board of Education, effective July 1, 2003. Dr. McKanna will succeed John G. Conyers, Ed.D., the current District 15 superintendent, who is retiring this year.
“We conducted a national search and reviewed numerous candidates for this important position,” commented Paula Mikula, president of the Board of Education. “Dr. McKanna not only has 17 years of experience in leading high performing elementary and high school districts, but he also is experienced in the business world. We are very pleased to have found such a well qualified candidate to continue the tradition of excellent leadership that we have been so fortunate to have from Dr. Conyers for the past 18 years.”
Dr. McKanna, who has been superintendent at District 121 since 1999, previously served as superintendent at Rush-Henrietta Central School District in Henrietta, NY; Longmeadow Public Schools in Longmeadow, MA; and Stevenson High School District 125 in Lincolnshire, IL. While in Massachusetts, he owned and managed a real estate company. Earlier in his career, he was an assistant superintendent, school principal, assistant state chairman-accredited schools at the University of Missouri, and a math and science teacher.
After earning his bachelor of arts in mathematics from William Jewell College, Liberty, MO, Dr. McKanna obtained a master of arts in school administration and mathematics from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, then a doctor of education degree in administration and supervision from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has completed post-doctoral graduate courses in elementary school curriculum, urban culture, cultural foundations of urban education, race relations in the classroom, and elementary school organization and administration. Other post-doctoral studies have included a certified quality manager course, a certificate in total quality management and on-line courses in Web design.
Dr. McKanna is a certified examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. He also is a certified trainer for the American Society for Quality (ASQ) Koalaty Kid program, a program that District 15 uses extensively in its schools, and he serves on the board of directors of ASQ’s International Koalaty Kid Alliance. He is an accomplished presenter, speaking often on the pursuit of quality and the Baldrige in Education Initiative, and he is the author of an article on quality for the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Quality Network News.
“School District 15 is a leading school district that has implemented the quality philosophy from top to bottom, including commitments to both the Baldrige principles of continuous improvement and to classroom instruction via the Koalaty Kid program,” Dr. McKanna said. “I am committed to the purposes and beliefs of both these programs. I am looking forward to the opportunity to put my background, training and experience to good use to preserve the culture of District 15 and to provide direction for continuous improvement.”
Dr. McKanna and his wife Kathleen are the parents of four adult children. They live in Gurnee. Dr. McKanna’s hobby is collecting and restoring antique automated music machines.
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