Board of Education hosts second and final community listening session on Saturday, November 8
Posted on 10/23/2025
The DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 Board of Education began the process of selecting its next Superintendent on October 1, 2025. Current Superintendent Dr. Minerva Garcia-Sanchez announced on August 22, 2026, that she would not seek a renewal of her contract, which will end on June 30, 2025. The Board is seeking a candidate who will continue the District's student-centered focus on growth and achievement, while advancing its forward momentum in accordance with its Core Values, Mission, and Vision. In the interest of time and efficiency, the Board has decided to conduct the search independently and will not be using a third-party search firm.
To assist in the process of building a leadership profile, a community listening session was held on October 20 at DeKalb High School. The DeKalb CUSD 428 Board of Education will host a second community listening session at Mitchell Elementary School, 1240 Normal Road, DeKalb, on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 1 - 2 p.m. The listening session is designed to gather additional input from the community, further informing the Board on the leadership profile and priorities for its next leader. Everyone residing within the DeKalb CUSD 428 boundaries is invited to attend.
In the spirit of respecting everyone's time during the listening session, questions will be collected in advance via this online form to eliminate duplication and ensure equitable representation of voices. Participants may ask questions in person if time permits. Individuals may submit as many questions as they would like. The question form will close on Wednesday, November 5, at 3:00 p.m..
All district stakeholders were invited to participate in a survey that was open from October 1 - 15. A summary of the survey results is available on the Superintendent Search Webpage, which serves as a central location for updates, timelines, and upcoming community engagement opportunities. The selection of candidates and completion of interviews are expected to take place December 2025 - January 2026, with the final candidate announced by the Board no later than its regularly scheduled March 17, 2026, Board of Education meeting.