School Board Selects Hinsdale South High School Principal

The Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education recently selected Stephanie S. Palmer, of LaGrange, as the next principal of Hinsdale South High School effective July 1, 2014. 

Palmer’s selection follows an extensive public participation process that included a survey of District 86 stakeholders conducted by School Perceptions. 

More than 370 District 86, parents, teachers, staff, community members and students shared their perspectives on the key strengths, experience and skills the ideal candidate should possess in order to be a successful team leader at Hinsdale South. 

District 86 Superintendent Bruce Law and members of his administrative team used insights from this process to select five candidates from an applicant pool of 30. 

These five candidates then participated in a public interview process at Hinsdale South that again involved parents, teachers, staff, students and the community. Based on feedback from these interviews, four candidates were presented to the District 86 Board of Education for final consideration and selection.

“We are excited to welcome Stephanie back to District 86,” said Law. “During her tenure with our district previously, Stephanie was a key contributor during a time of transition in school leadership at Hinsdale Central. Her focus on building a vibrant, innovative learning community that supports the professional development of teachers and encourages student achievement and engagement at all levels will help us extend the Hinsdale District 86 tradition of excellence.” 

From 2007-2011, Palmer had served as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Hinsdale Central High School. In this role, she coordinated an initiative to increase student participation and success in Advanced Placement and Honors courses.

Palmer also led the development of the school’s Digital Learning Center, which supports both credit recovery and student access to AP coursework beyond the District’s curricular offerings.

Since 2011, Palmer has served as principal at Butler Junior High School, where she oversaw the introduction of a 1:1 technology initiative that provided all students with a laptop for use in school. 

She also coordinated that school’s adoption of the Charlotte Danielson “Framework for Teaching” teacher evaluation model in compliance with the Illinois Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA). Butler School District 53 is a feeder elementary school district to Hinsdale Township High School District 86.

Previously, Palmer spend 17 years  at Township High School District 214 where she taught English and was chair of the English/Fine Arts Division.

“It is honor to be selected to serve as principal of Hinsdale South High School, an exceptional learning community that sets and achieves high standards for teaching and learning,” said Palmer. “I am truly grateful to return to District 86 and look forward to partnering with our teachers, staff, parents and community to maximize each student’s high school experience, providing a solid foundation for future success.”

Palmer earned a master of arts degree in school administration and supervision from Concordia University, and a bachelor of science degree in secondary education-English and minor in speech communication from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

She has also completed coursework toward a doctor of education (Ed.D.) degree in school administration from Roosevelt University and is currently enrolled in a superintendent’s certificate program at Concordia University.

Source: Hinsdale Township High School District 86 press release