When Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant won the election for the new seat of State Senator for the 49^th District, she resigned as Will County Regional Superintendent of Schools. Now Will County Executive Larry Walsh has joined with Will County Board member Joe Babich to form an advisory committee to interview candidates to fill the regional superintendent of schools position.

“I asked Board Member Joe Babich, who chairs the county board’s Health and Public Safety Committee, to assist me in forming an advisory group to interview those interested in this position,” said Executive Walsh.  “The Will County Board’s Health and Public Safety committee has received reports from the Regional Office of Education in the past so I thought it was important to seek the chairman of this committee’s advice in finding the best candidate.”

Those interested in applying to be the next Will County Regional Superintendent of Schools should send a letter of interest and their credentials to the County Executive’s office, c/o ROE Search, 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60435, by Mon. Feb. 4, 2013. 

Along with the requirement that the replacement be a Democrat since Senator Bertino-Tarrant was elected as a Democrat and state law requires the replacement to be of the same political party, additional requirements include: 

(1) is of good character, (2) has a master's degree, (3) has earned at least 20 semester hours of credit in professional education at the graduate level, (4) holds a valid all grade supervisory certificate or a valid state limited supervisory certificate, or a valid state life supervisory certificate, or a valid administrative certificate, (5) has had at least 4 years experience in teaching, and (6) was engaged for at least 2 years of the 4 previous years in full time teaching or supervising in the common public schools or serving as a county superintendent of schools or regional superintendent of schools for an educational service region in the State of Illinois. (105 ILCS 5/3-1)… 

The advisory committee members will interview the applicants and make a recommendation for filling the position to Executive Walsh.  Walsh will then officially make the nomination to the Will County Board which must confirm Walsh’s recommendation. 

The Regional Offices of Education (ROE) in Will and other Illinois Counties serve as intermediate agencies between the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts. The ROE administers several special programs, including truancy prevention, GED testing, life safety inspections of school buildings, bus driver training and continuing education for teachers and administrators. During past year, the ROE also has assisted local school districts by fingerprinting new employees in compliance with a new state law.

For more information about the Regional Office of Education, visit the website: www.wil.k12.il.us.