Superintendent

District 181 Superintendent, Dr. Hector Garcia

Dr. Hector Garcia was named superintendent in February 2018 after an extensive search and began his tenure at District 181 on July 1, 2018. He has 25 years of public school teaching and administrative experience, brings honed leadership skills, an in-depth knowledge of finance, facilities, and curriculum and instruction, as well as a collaborative, student-centered mindset to D181. These are characteristics that the D181 community identified as needed during an extensive community engagement process as part of the superintendent search. Dr. Garcia is committed to enhancing the collaborative relationships with staff, parents, and community and furthering the excellence that are hallmarks of District 181.

Formerly, Dr. Garcia served as Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer of Plano District 88, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Glenbard School District 87, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Plainfield School District 202. He has also served as a principal, assistant principal, dean of students, and teacher in schools ranging from Adlai Stevenson District 125 in Lincolnshire to Morton East District 201 in Cicero. He has also taught graduate courses on leadership, organizational behavior, and curriculum for three Chicago area universities.

He has presented extensively at the state and national level on administrative and collaborative topics, as well as implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs). Dr. Garcia has also been elected or appointed to key state and national committees. In addition, he was appointed to serve as one of 32 educators on the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC), which was charged with creating a new way to evaluate teachers and principals that incorporates student growth measures. At the national level, Dr. Garcia was elected as the Chair of National Academic Assembly Council for College Board.

Dr. Garcia received his Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Loyola University, Master's Degree in Education Administration from Northern Illinois University, and a Bachelor's Degree in history from the University of Illinois at Chicago.