Recipients of the Superintendent of the Year award are graduates of the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations (EAF) who go above and beyond to serve their school districts. The following two alumni educators were recognized with the award in 2016 and 2017. The newest honoree will be announced at the 2018 EAF on the Red Carpet Spring Gala on Saturday, May 5, at the DoubleTree Hotel.
2016 award recipient Barry Reilly ’89, M.S. ’95, Ph.D. ’07, has served as superintendent of the Bloomington Public Schools since 2009. Before becoming superintendent, he worked for the district for 19 years as a health and physical education teacher, principal and assistant superintendent of human resources. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1989, a master’s degree in 1995, and a doctorate in educational administration in 2007, all at Illinois State.
2017 award recipient Mark Jontry, M.S. ’01, has been the superintendent of the Regional Office of Education 17 for the past 11 years. He has demonstrated his job knowledge in a variety of ways including service to the 30 school districts and its 37,000 students, and has shown how the office of the regional superintendent can be a beacon for change and enhancements of programs. He is a servant leader who works with administrators and teachers in his districts to construct systems that facilitate effective learning environments.
