Kevin Pobst replaced Hinsdale Central’s principal Jim Ferguson on an interim basis earlier this year. Now he has the job for the 2007-08 school year. As the second half of summer begins and fall classes draw closer than students are probably comfortable thinking about, Pobst, an educator for nearly three decades but first-time principal, is our newsmaker of the week.

Q: Since coming to District 86, you’ve worked as an assistant principal at Hinsdale South, an administrator in the district’s office and now as a principal at Central. What position do you find to be the most rewarding and why?

A: Each position has its own rewards. As assistant principal at Hinsdale South, I was able to work with students, parents and teachers directly on a day-to-day basis. Anyone who chooses to be a teacher does so because they like teenagers and wants to work with them. Hinsdale South’s school culture is very positive and familial; and of course, I was working with a very high energy and very positive leader, Dr. Claudia Geocaris.

As assistant superintendent I was able to work on districtwide programs that interested me — New Teacher Induction, Instructional Technology Planning, Teacher Evaluation and Professional Growth Programming, Student Achievement Data Analysis. I was also able to be part of Dr. Wahl’s team in thinking through leadership decisions and discussing issues with the Board of Education. But I really missed being in a school building with students and teachers, so having the opportunity to step in as principal at Central has been exciting.

The students at Hinsdale Central are enthusiastic, highly motivated and interesting, and they are supported by teachers and parents who are deeply committed to their achievement. In many ways this is an ideal position for someone who cares passionately about the quality of the experience that students and families have during their high school years. I really feel like I have an opportunity to work with an outstanding faculty and staff to expand opportunities for students.

Q: Hinsdale Central garnered a lot of attention during the trial of former teacher and coach Robert Mueller and in the wake of his conviction, as school leaders such as your predecessor, Jim Ferguson, and the school’s athletic director took an indefinite medical leave or resigned. What steps have you taken to help the high school maintain stability?

A: Past experiences inform us, but we are looking forward optimistically. The steps we will be taking will be incremental and situational rather than grand dramatic gestures. It is very important to make sure that there is robust communication within the school community so people feel they can ask the questions they need to ask, provide input they believe will be helpful, have access to decision-makers, and that decision-making is as transparent as possible. The goal is to build the confidence of the students, faculty and parents in their school as a safe, purposeful and compassionate place. We want Hinsdale Central to be a fun, exciting and positively challenging place to come to work, as a student, teacher or staff member.

Q: According to statewide testing results, last year Central failed to meet No Child Left Behind requirements for math proficiency among a certain group of students. How much do those results cause you concern and what do you do to make improvements?

A: Hinsdale Central’s Class of 2008 cohort of disabled students did not score highly enough on the PSAE/ACT to make Adequate Yearly Progress in math. And, yes, we are concerned about all students’ academic growth and achievement from ninth to 12th grades, so falling short of the goal in this area concerns us.

Through the 2006-07 school year we have been examining the way our Educational Services Department provides services to special education students. Based on some of our preliminary findings, we will be formulating some recommendations for adjustments to curriculum and instruction in math for special education students. It is important to recognize that special education students are being tested with the same standardized tests that are used to measure the achievement of regular education students and that they are expected to reach the same targets. This is very challenging but we will work hard to improve these students’ achievement.
 
Q: How would you characterize your leadership style as a principal and what characteristics do you hope to impart on students at Central?

A: I try to be open and direct in my communication, and to encourage people to be open and direct with me. I work hard and encourage and respect hard work by others. I believe that even “the best” can get better at what they do, so I will be impatient with satisfaction. We must maintain high expectations for our students’ achievement, and it is my job to ensure that the standards of teaching and learning are high. I believe a good school has a spirit that should inspire students, faculty and parents and that my job is to nurture that spirit. Every student should feel we recognize them as a unique individual, we believe in them, and we will leave no stone unturned in our effort to help them take steps toward their dreams.