The Butler School District 53 Board of Education has named Dr. Paul O’Malley to the district’s top administrative role as Superintendent of Schools beginning July 1, 2019. He will succeed Dr. Heidi Wennstrom, who is retiring at the end of the school year.
The selection of O’Malley was announced at the board of education’s monthly meeting last night. The Board launched the search for a new superintendent in the fall of 2018 under the leadership of board members Dr. Sally Beatty and Mrs. Laura Bieselin. The selection is the result of a national search conducted with the assistance of the search firm Ray & Associates, town hall meetings and a stakeholder survey that produced 38 qualified applicants from diverse geographic and professional backgrounds. The board selected O’Malley after in-person interviews with the top three candidates in mid-January.
District 53 School Board President, Christopher S. Edmonds, said they are extraordinarily pleased with the outcome of the search process. In the end, O’Malley proved himself the best candidate to carry forward the vision of the District.
“On behalf of the District 53 Board, I want to thank all of those who applied for the position. I also want to thank Sally and Laura for their leadership of this effort! As a Board, we are incredibly excited to make this offer to Dr. O’Malley,” said Edmonds. “His understanding of our high-performing students and the expectations of our community to consistently raise the bar for all of our students was eye-opening and refreshing. He has a transparent and data-driven approach to education. We are confident Paul’s leadership will provide District 53 with a growth path for the future focusing on the development of the whole child. The Board looks forward to working with Dr. O’Malley.”
O’Malley said he looks forward to leading the district with a commitment to improving academic achievement using fiscally sound practices to ensure every student receives a world-class education.
“I am honored to have been chosen to lead and serve Butler School District 53 as the next Superintendent,” O’Malley said. “I am grateful to serve in this capacity. I will work collaboratively, with an emphasis on teamwork, transparency and a “students first” mindset. It is my mission to continue moving our district from exemplary to epic through a gifted and academically talented pathway with high educational outcomes for all of our students.”
O’Malley is currently Superintendent of Schools for Norridge School District 80. Before accepting that role in 2015, he served as associate superintendent of schools at Community Unit School District 308. Before joining District 308, O’Malley was an assistant superintendent for business services at Niles Township High School District 219 and held the same position in Glenbard Township School District 87 for two years. He also served as director of finance, operations and human services for the Ridgeland School District. O’Malley began his education career teaching high school chemistry, natural science, and physics. He also played baseball for the Houston Astros.
O’Malley received his doctorate in educational leadership from National Louis University, Chicago, and his Type 75 superintendent endorsement from Loyola University, Chicago. O’Malley received his bachelor of science in chemistry education from DePaul University, Chicago, and a double master’s in education leadership and special education from Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago.