A southern Illinois school administrator is the new leader of the statewide association for school superintendents and administrators.
Crab Orchard Community Unit School District 3 superintendent Derek Hutchins has been elected president of the Illinois Association of School Administrators.
Dr. Brent Clark, executive director of IASA, said Hutchins experience and his leadership skills will provide solid leadership for IASA, which is one of the nation’s largest statewide associations for school administrators with more than 1,700 members.
“Derek has been on the IASA Board of Directors for more than five years and has served four years on our Governmental Relations Committee so he has a keen understanding of the issues facing public education,” Clark said. “Derek is deeply committed to providing the best possible educational opportunities for children and I believe he will provide great leadership for our association during these challenging times.”
Hutchins said he looks forward to working with his colleagues from throughout the state to meet the tough challenges facing public education.
“The challenges facing today’s school superintendent are much different than when I started this 12 years ago. The system of funding school districts very much needs to be fixed where all districts are funded equitably and adequately,” Hutchins said. “Now is the time when the topic is at the forefront to make the necessary changes. As British statistician Sir Claus Moser opined, ‘Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.’ “
He has been an educator for 28 years, the past 12 as superintendent in the Crab Orchard district.
Crab Orchard School Board President Matt Troxel called Hutchins a “top-notch” administrator.
“We are very, very blessed to have Derek as our superintendent,” said Troxel, who has been a member of the Crab Orchard Board of Education for 10 years, serving as president the last seven years. “He has been a wonderful asset for our district. He keeps things in line and if a problem comes up he knows how to handle it. Derek is always looking out for kids and trying to provide them with the best possible opportunities, and people need that these days.”
