At its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, the Board of Education of Chicago Heights School District 170 approved the appointment of Dr. Gretchen Sutherland as Curriculum Director, effective July 1, 2021.
In her new position, Sutherland will be responsible for every aspect of the district’s curricular entity.
“Having worked closely with Gretchen for many years, I value and appreciate her expertise as an educator and administrator,” said Superintendent Tom Amadio.
Sutherland was quick to extend her appreciation for the appointment.
“I would like to thank the school board and central office administration for providing me with this wonderful opportunity,” she said.
“My growth as an educational leader is a direct result of the relationships formed during my career at School District 170 and the many collaborative professional experiences in which I have been involved.”
“I am delighted to continue to serve the Chicago Heights School District 170 community and look forward to expanding the already successful initiatives, programs, and structures that we have in place in our school district.”
“During this past school year, our administration, staff, students, and families have not allowed the pandemic to hold back our progress. We have all worked tirelessly to develop structures to give students our very best effort, and I look forward to working with the entire school community to continue to provide successful outcomes for our students!” Sutherland concluded
A veteran of 25-years in the district, Dr. Sutherland has excelled in such diverse roles as a Learning Disabilities Inclusion Teacher, Title 1 Reading Specialist, Assistant Principal at Roosevelt and Washington-McKinley Schools, and for the past ten years as Principal of Washington-McKinley School. She also has served on curricular committees and a wide-ranging district-led instructional, leadership, and community involvement initiatives.
Dr. Sutherland earned her Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from The University of St. Francis. She also holds a Master of Science degree in School Leadership from Concordia University, and a Master of Science in Education/Reading Specialization degree from Governors State University.
“Based on her past success in many diverse professional assignments, I believe Gretchen will do an outstanding job as Curriculum Director," Superintendent Amadio said.
"She will maintain and expand the excellence of our district’s curriculum and ensure that our students have everything needed to maximize their learning experience.”