New 109 Superintendent Starts by Listening

After living in Deerfield for the last eight years, half of them as a Deerfield Public Schools District 109 parent, new Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld knew better than any other candidate what he was getting into.

Like all parents two years ago, he had to worry whether the Deerfield Education Association (DEA) teacher union would strike.

Lubelfeld heard the community express strong feelings about what some perceived as a decline in special education services in the District.

Aware some members of the community were discontent with the administration of their children’s schools; Lubelfeld knew there was a group who wanted to delay hiring a new superintendent until a new Board of Education was elected. Some of those people are now Board members.

Lubelfeld was also aware of surveys ranking both District institutions and Deerfield High School as some of the best in the state and country.

Knowing all of that, one of the first two things Lubelfeld did when he took the reins of the District July 1 was set a goal of excellence and do a lot of listening.

“I reached out to the DEA,” Lubelfeld said. “We had a ‘pencils down’ meeting to get to know each other. The teachers are eager for a new relationship with the administration that will be like one (they perceive) was in place several years ago.”

After an initial meeting with DEA President Dennis Jensen, Lubelfeld met with teacher groups from Shepard and Caruso Middle Schools as well as Kipling and Walden Elementary Schools. Wilmot and South Park are on the calendar. Jensen shares Lubelfeld’s enthusiasm.

“He’s very open,” Jensen said of Lubelfeld. “He really wants to get the views of the DEA. He truly wants to understand what’s going on and he stresses improving the relationship with the teachers.”

While Lubelfeld thought enough of Deerfield to have his children educated here, he is not satisfied standing still. During an hour long interview, the word excellence came from his mouth more than any other word.

“Excellence is achieved by educating children for their future and not our past,” Lubelfeld said. “This is a change in our professional perspective in DPS 109. It is my understanding this was not done in 109 before.”

Though Lubelfeld was on the outside before, District 109 Communications Director Cathy Kedjidjian, a long time Deerfield resident as well, has observed the last few years through both the lens of an administrator and parent.

“These opportunities will grow with changes in leadership and structure here in District 109, and with the vast changes in the educational environment in the United States,” Kedjidjian said. “Dr. Lubelfeld absolutely is the right leader at the right time to build that culture of collaboration and communication in our district.” 

While thinking about the future, Lubelfeld is excited about the fact students will have Chromebooks to use and teachers who know how to use them to help the children. “We’re going to push them all up,” he said. He also recognizes personal computers have value too.

“We want them (the students) to have the latest scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical tools and instructors experienced to teach our students what they need to know about.”

The new superintendent was referring to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education which is something the District has been looking for ways to implement at all levels. It is also key to helping young people find jobs in a modern world, according to Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) and former Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth).

Get local news in a daily email from Patch. It's like getting a free newspaper. Learn more. Then "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.