Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 Announces the Hiring of Dr. Jennifer Norrell as Superintendent
[Flossmoor, IL] – [November 7, 2024] – The Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Jennifer Norrell as the next Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2025. This announcement follows a comprehensive and inclusive community engagement process that involved input from a wide array of district stakeholders, including students, families, staff, and community members.
The district’s search process, facilitated by The Alma Group, was guided by a commitment to transparency and collaboration. Through surveys, community forums, and interview panels, the Board of Education ensured that voices from all corners of the district were heard. The process was designed to identify a leader who embodies the values and aspirations of Homewood-Flossmoor and is committed to the success of all students.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Dr. Norrell to the district,” said Gerald Pauling, President of the Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 Board of Education. “She demonstrated throughout our search process, that she understands the opportunities, challenges and needs of our community, and she has the skills and vision to lead us into the future.”
Dr. Norrell has served as superintendent since 2018 for East Aurora School District 131. Dr. Norrell
is the leader of the 12th largest school district in Illinois overseeing a $300M annual budget and roughly 2,000 employees and in 2022 was named Superintendent of the Year for the Kishwaukee Illinois region. Serving as the first female superintendent in 180 years in the State of Illinois’ oldest school district and the first African American female superintendent in Kane County, she leads the Pre-K– 12th grade district with equity-focused leadership and proudly implements the only districtwide dual language program in Illinois.
In over 25 years, Dr. Norrell has served in many roles including teacher, school leader and district leader for Pre-K–12th grade schools. She also served in Illinois overseeing underperforming districts across the state through a partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Norrell also served many years as university faculty and leadership and curriculum consultant. She supported improvement efforts and mentored educators for districts including Atlanta Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Dallas Independent School District and Indianapolis Public Schools. She also has presented at numerous State, national, and regional conferences including the American Educational Research Association (AERA), American Association for School Administrators (AASA), Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), College Board AP Annual Conference, Forum, Colloquium and the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NAFSA).
Dr. Norrell, the 2023 Aurora African American Leader of the Year, and 2021 Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Honoree, serves on the College Board’s National Superintendent’s Advisory Council, Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI), Midwest Suburban Superintendent’s Association (MSSA) and other State and national organizations. In 2022, Dr. Norrell was elected nationally as a Trustee for the College Board for a four-year term.
In April 2024, the DuPage County NAACP honored Dr. Norrell as a Transformative Leader in Education for her “Persistence and dedication to enhance systems of equity to benefit all children; Luminary for all students and our community.”
Dr. Norrell earned a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Hampton University, a Master’s from Saint Xavier University, and a Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Norrell was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago and her daughter attended Flossmoor schools. She and her family are excited to return home.
In the coming months, Dr. Norrell will begin the transition into the role, meeting with district staff, students, families, and community members. Retiring Superintendent Dr. Scott Wakeley is committed to a smooth transition for the new leader throughout the second semester leading up to her official start date on July 1, 2025.
About Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233
Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, innovation, and equity for all students. Serving the communities of Homewood, Flossmoor, and surrounding areas, the district is committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that prepares students for success in college, careers, and life.
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HF Board Begins Superintendent Search
The Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 Board of Education approved a contract with The Alma Advisory Group to complete a national search process for the next Superintendent for Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233. The Board expects to fill the position before the end of the calendar year, allowing for a smooth transition in leadership in July 2025.
Homewood-Flossmoor High School Superintendent Dr. Scott Wakeley announced his retirement during a faculty meeting in April. Effective at the end of the 2024-25 school year, Dr. Wakeley will conclude his education career that spans 34 years, including 20 years as a superintendent, with four of those leading Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233.
At its April meeting, the Board selected The Alma Advisory Group for many reasons including its clear focus on equity and diversity in hiring through a competency-based approach at all phases of the process. The process also includes inclusive and authentic community engagement to assure the candidates meet the community’s vision for its school. The Alma Advisory Group will partner with the Board of Education in each step of the search and hiring process, assuring a smooth transition in leadership.
Help us interview our next Superintendent!
On behalf of the HF Board of Education, thank you for your active participation in the search for the next superintendent of Homewood Flossmoor Community High School District. As we enter the interview stage of our search, we want to share an important opportunity for district stakeholders to participate in this process.
The Board has decided to incorporate community input and voice at the finalist stage while maintaining the confidentiality of our candidates. To achieve this, we are forming a community panel to engage with our top two or three finalists during the selection process. We welcome anyone interested in participating on the panel to volunteer. Please see additional details below about the panel selection process:
Who can volunteer to participate?
- HF students, parents and caregivers, teachers and instructional staff, classified staff, principals, administrators, and community members may volunteer to participate.
How will individuals be selected?
- The Board will select a panel of 12-15 people who represent the diversity of our community.
What will panelists need to do?
- Participate in two virtual planning sessions during the week of September 30 and October 7
- Meet with the finalists in person on interview day
- Provide feedback to the Board via survey
- Protect the confidentiality of each of the finalist candidates
How can we sign up?
Can I participate if I am not on the panel?
Thank you again for your participation in this critical process. Your voice matters, and we look forward to your continued engagement in the selection of our next superintendent.
Job Posting
We’re looking for a dynamic and outcomes-driven leader to join Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 as Superintendent. The next Superintendent will lead this proud award-winning high school district in implementing its five-year strategic plan. The district serves nearly 3,000 students and is located in the Cook County suburb of Flossmoor, Ill., approximately 25 miles south of downtown Chicago. If you or someone you know is interested in this role, check out the full position announcement at this link.
June 18, 2024 Board Presentation
Alma Advisory Group CEO Monica Rosen shared an update on the Superintendent Search community engagement process at the June 18, 2024 Board meeting. The first step is gathering feedback from the community about their hopes for HF and its next superintendent. Community participation has included meetings with 89 community participants, 17 one-on-one interviews, 24 students and 439 survey responses. The response has come from representation mirroring the community demographics. The presentation slides can be found here.
Community Survey