05/23/2008 - Board of Education Approves Hiring of New Superintendent: Dr. James Briscoe

By unanimous vote of Board members present, the Board of Education approved the hiring and contract of the new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. James Briscoe. Until his appointment with DeKalb Community Unit School DIstrict 428, Dr. Briscoe served for the past six years as Superintendent of Oak Lawn Community High School District 299, a single-school district with about 1800 students in grades 9-12. Oak Lawn is located 15 miles southwest of Chicago.

Briscoe received his undergraduate degree in Education from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and masters and doctoral degrees from Northern Illinois University. Prior to his position in Oak Lawn, Dr. Briscoe was the principal of Brookfield Community High School, Brookfield, Wisconsin, for six years. He was also principal of Round Lake High School, Round Lake, Illinois. During eleven years of service with the Johnsburg, Illinois school district, Briscoe served in several capacities including assistant principal of the high school, dean of students at the middle school, and a 6th grade Social Studies and Math teacher for three years.

Briscoe will begin his tenure at District 428 beginning June 30, 2008. He is married to Joan. They have a daughter, Shannon, a graduate of Brookfield High School and the University of Wisconsin. She is now a geologist and works in South Dakota. Welcome Dr. Briscoe and Joan!

A community-wide reception is being planned for late summer or early fall.

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