D-211 Appoints New Superintendent

“The Board of Education is very pleased with its choice of Dr. Cates as superintendent of schools,” Board President Bill Robertson stated. “He has been a leader in District 211 for some time, and as a Board we feel his appointment as superintendent keeps us moving in a positive direction towards meeting our educational and financial goals. The Board is pleased with the feedback it received during the search process, and we are sure that staff, students, parents, and community members will enjoy working with Dr. Cates in his new role as superintendent.”

Dr. Cates has worked in District 211 throughout his career, starting in 1992 when he was hired as a school psychologist. 

After being promoted to the position of Assistant to the Director of Special Education in 1998, he was appointed as the Director of Special Education in 2001, and he served in this role until 2008. While in this position, Dr. Cates played a key leadership role in founding the District’s second alternative school, and he led the expansion of special services available to students within District 211.

Dr. Cates was appointed as Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services in 2008 and then as Associate Superintendent for Administrative Services in 2011.

In these roles, he has led the District’s Instructional Team, and he has played a key role in transforming the District’s use of technology, including the implementation of District 211’s One-to-One program.

Now in its second year of implementation, this program includes 7,000 students who are using a District-issued iPad device as a central learning tool.  Dr. Cates received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1987.  He earned his doctorate from Indiana University in 1994.

The appointment of Dr. Cates as District 211 superintendent culminates an internal and external search process by the Board of Education and conducted by School Exec Connect.

The process included use of feedback from stakeholder surveys, as well as focus groups from a committee comprised of a cross-section of District constituents, including community members, parents, teachers, support staff, and administrators.  Following interview sessions, feedback was gathered by the Board before making its final decision and a contract offer for four years (2014-2018) at a base net salary of $215,000.