Harper: Plainfield Superintendent Embarks on Final School Year

By District 202 Superintendent John Harper

In 1981, I started my first job in education teaching social studies at Indian Trail Middle School here in District 202, which was then a tiny, rural school district with only five schools and about 3,000 students.

Next summer, I will retire after 33 years in District 202, including the last 12 years as superintendent of what is now the fourth largest district in Illinois, with 30 schools and nearly 29,000 students.

In that time, much has changed about District 202, our community and public education overall. Yet there is always one constant:

Our commitment to our students.

No matter how many children come through our doors; no matter what new requirements the state and federal governments issue (usually, it seems, without adequate funding); no matter how hard the economy hits our community, District 202 continues to do everything we can to give our children the best possible opportunities to learn, grow and succeed.

This year will be no different, despite several huge hurdles we face. 

As we discussed last winter and spring, District 202 will implement the new Common Core State Standards for mathematics this year. The new Language Arts standards will follow next year.

This is one of the most important changes in the history of public education as the national Common Core Learning Standards replace the state learning standards. The Common Core Standards are designed to better prepare all of our students to compete in a global economy by increasing the rigor of what they learn, and teaching key information more deeply than has been done before.

Although Illinois has had specific expectations for student learning for many years, this is the first time that the “bar” has been set at the same level for most of the country. The transition to these shared expectations will be a learning experience for everyone involved with public education.

Of course resources continue to be a concern. Even as the economy seems to be (slowly) improving, the state’s financial problems remain a real and significant issue that affects districts like ours more so than some of our wealthier neighbors. 

Still, District 202 is blessed with teachers, administrators and staff members who are dedicated to helping every child achieve and grow; elected officials with vision and the courage to make hard decisions needed to give our children the chance to succeed; families willing to guide and support their children, and of course, students anxious and excited to work hard in and out of the classroom.

As I look back on my time in District 202, and forward to whatever will come next, I am extremely proud of the work we have done on behalf of our children, and the future they will help build for all of us. I wish all of our families, students and staff a great 2013-14 school year.

Together, we will continue to prepare learners for the future.

Dr. John Harper

Superintendent of Schools

Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202