Campbell Appointed New Evanston Township High School Superintendent

EVANSTON, IL — Since he arrived at Evanston Township High School, Marcus Campbell always held out hope that a day like Thursday would arrive.

Campbell, who has been at the school for 21 years and has most recently served as the school’s principal and assistant superintendent since 2013, will take over as the top administrator in July after being approved for the position at a special meeting of the District 202 school board on Thursday night.

Officials said a contract is being finalized and is expected to be approved at the board’s meeting on May 9. Campbell will begin the new job on July 1, board officials announced and becomes the first African American man to hold the role of District 202 superintendent in the district's 139-year history.

Campbell’s appointment came after a six-month search process in which board members said it became evident that their new superintendent would be a familiar face for the district. Campbell will move into the role following the retirement of Superintendent Eric Witherspoon.

“This is a historic moment for ETHS and our community as a whole,” board president Pat Savage-Williams said at Thursday’s meeting. “We are very excited to acknowledge and celebrate that history and I can think of no one better to make history than Marcus Campbell.”

Board members described Campbell Thursday as a compassionate and exemplary educational leader. School officials praised Campbell for his service to the school’s mission and students during his more than two decades with the district.

Campbell has played a central role in the district’s equity transformation programs and initiatives. He has received both personal and professional accolades for his leadership in the development of district strategy and organizational change, the district said in a news release. Campbell has worked to effectively engage students, staff, families, the Board, and members of the community to clearly articulate the goals and priorities of the district.

“I am just humbled to be seen and to be recognized and affirmed in such a way,” Campbell said at Thursday’s meeting. “Even after being here for 21 years, sometimes when you’re an internal person, people know all the stuff because you’re here every day. But I’m just honored my colleagues would continue to see me to further lead in this way.”

Savage-Williams said Thursday that the board received “overwhelmingly and compellingly positive” feedback from community members who were part of Campbell’s interview process. Community members praised Campbell’s dedication to the student body and lauded him as an effective communicator who was clearly the best choice for the job, officials said during Thursday’s meeting.

The Alma Consulting Group, which assisted the board with the superintendent search, said that Campbell was the candidate who is best suited to take the district into its new chapter of leadership.

Witherspoon said Thursday night that he could tell early on in Campbell’s career at ETHS that the former English teacher had all of the makings of a future superintendent.

“You have moved through the ranks, and I know, in my mind, that is the way to prepare the next superintendent,” Witherspoon said Thursday night. “To start as a teacher and move through the ranks — get all of that experience. But what was so much fun all these years with you is that there was such intentionality that you were preparing to be a superintendent.

“You have done everything to be prepared for this role. …. I have always believed that a new superintendent coming in needs to be able to embrace the vision and the mission and the challenges of the district and then take that district to the next level. And, oh my. You’re going to take this district to the next level.”