News Releases
Dr. Linda Vass to Retire, Jean Sophie Promoted
Superintendent John G. Conyers has announced the June 30, 2003, retirement of Dr. Linda Vass, assistant superintendent for personnel and human services. Jean Sophie, currently principal at Jane Addams School, will move into the position effective April 1, and Rollie Johnson, now assistant principal at Jane Addams, has been named interim principal.
“Linda has been a trusted, valued member of the Superintendent’s cabinet,” Conyers said. “She is a key member of the administrative team. I have always had total confidence in her ability and her loyalty, knowing that she represents the highest standards in professionalism, leadership, and integrity. Her work has been instrumental in earning District 15 the reputation of having a highly professional working environment and providing extensive support to its teachers and other employees.”
Active in the field of education for more than 30 years as a teacher, department chair, educational consultant, and administrator, Dr. Vass has served as assistant superintendent in District 15 since 1986. She has been responsible for human resources services for all district employees; recruitment, selection, placement, induction/training of new staff members; and collective bargaining, contract management, and maintaining positive working relationships with union groups. She also has been involved in policy development and management, and chaired a number of district committees. Dr. Vass holds a B.S. degree in home economics education and science from Iowa State University, an M.S. Ed. from Purdue University, a certificate of advanced study in educational administration from Northern Illinois University, and an Ed.D. in educational administration, also from Northern Illinois. Last year she was honored by the Illinois State Board of Education with an “Award of Excellence” in the 2002-03 Those Who Excel education awards.
Sophie has been principal at Jane Addams since 2001, and previously served as assistant principal at Plum Grove Junior High and at Winston Campus. Before joining District 15, she was assistant principal at DuJardin Elementary School in Bloomingdale. She has also been a business education teacher, an alternative high school teacher, building supervisor, and administrator. She holds a bachelor’s degree cum laude in business education and a master’s degree in educational administration, both from Northern Illinois University, where she is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in educational administration. Jean is a Lincoln Foundation for Business Excellence examiner, a member of the Superintendent’s Communication Council, and a member of the American Association of School Administrators and the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
Johnson has been assistant principal at Jane Addams since 2001, having previously been building assistant at Frank C. Whiteley School for 12 years. He also served as building assistant at Winston Campus, Kimball Hill, and Gray M. Sanborn Schools and taught first grade at Jane Addams for two years. Prior to joining District 15, he was principal in District 118 in Wauconda and a primary teacher in School District 25 in Arlington Heights. He holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational administration from Northern Illinois University.
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