Dec. 18--Waukegan School District 60 has chosen a Chicago Public Schools administrator to lead the district starting next school year.
The school board announced Theresa Plascencia as the district's new superintendent in a unanimous vote at a special board meeting Thursday night.
"I'm excited, I'm nervous, I didn't know I could have this many emotions going through me at once," said Plascencia, who said she wants to empower students, parents, teachers and staff.
"I look forward to being part of your family."
School board member Rick Riddle praised Plascencia's "passion for kids."
"Some of us visited Chicago schools she has run and were extremely impressed. We heard only good things about her as a leader," he said.
Current superintendent Donaldo Batiste has announced plans to retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year after a decade leading the 17,000-student preschool through high school district.
"I am so happy to be able to co-author the history of the Waukegan Public School district with someone of her caliber," Batiste said.
Plascencia said he leaves "big shoes to fill."
She has worked in Chicago Public Schools for 20 years, currently serving as executive director of high school programs, design and support, according to a biography provided by the district. She works with 119 high schools, focusing on student achievement and building high school leadership.
Plascencia previously served as CPS's chief of the West Side High School network and principal of Chicago's Farragut Career Academy. She earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education from DePaul University, a master's degree in educational leadership from Loyola and is pursuing a doctorate at National-Louis University, according to a statement from the district.
The district hired Libertyville-based consulting firm BWP Associates to conduct the search for Batiste's successor. School board members interviewed five finalists from the roughly 45 applicants earlier this month, said school board president Michael Rodriguez.
"We didn't want to wait until all the other schools had made their selections," Rodriguez said. "I think we got the best one, I really do."
lzumbach@tribpub.com
