Glenbard Township High School District 87 approved Josh Chambers as the new principal at Glenbard East High School in Lombard at the School Board meeting Monday, June 9 night.

“I’m very excited,” Chambers said. “It’s a great opportunity to work in a school that is very innovative.”

Chambers, assistant principal for administrative services at Community High School in West Chicago, will succeed Bob McBride starting July 1.

“Josh has a great education background and comes to us with a background in the business world along with the education world,” said David Brown, president of the Glenbard District 87 School Board. “He’s a great fit for Glenbard East.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, Chambers entered the business world, working at Pansophic Systems in Lisle. When he wanted to change careers, he decided to follow in his mother’s footsteps and go into education.

“I wanted to do something that would make an impact. I looked at education and got involved,” he said. “I found my niche in the education field.”

Along with earning his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University, Chambers has taught in the Chicago Public Schools system. He said working in Chicago and West Chicago has provided enough experience for him to deal with any situation he might face at Glenbard East.

“It doesn’t matter the economic situation. ... Street-tough kids found joy in the same things the much more privileged found joy in,” he said.

He said he likes the diversity he is coming into at Glenbard East and prefers it over a more homogenous school.

After working as principal for three years at Glenbard East, McBride is taking over the same position at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville.

“Bob McBride did an excellent job leading Glenbard East, but we believe that Josh Chambers comes in with some great qualifications for the school,” Brown said. “There’s great years ahead at Glenbard East.”