Future District 210 Superintendent Hopes to Build on 'Tradition of Excellence'

Mary Ticknor won't officially become the new superintendent of until July 1, but she's already hard at work.

On Monday, the District 210 Board of Education with Ticknor, who currently serves as an associate superintendent in the Burr Ridge-based Community Consolidated School District 181.

She will replace outgoing Superintendent Sandra Doebert, June 30 after leading the district for the past decade.

Following the approval of Ticknor's contract Monday, Board President Beverly Marzec joked that she has some "very big, but very pretty shoes to fill."

Ticknor says she's up to the task and is ready to pick up right where Doebert leaves off.

"I’m grateful to the Board of Education for giving me the opportunity to build upon this district’s longstanding tradition of excellence," she said. "I have great respect for Dr. Doebert and feel very fortunate to follow such a highly effective leader."

Last week, Patch spoke to Ticknor, a South Dakota native, about her new job and the vision she has for District 210 over the next three years.

PATCH: First of all, what attracted you to Lemont High School?

TICKNOR: The reputation of Lemont High School is really strong. There’s such a strong academic program, a curriculum that has varied offerings. There's also an extensive activities program. It was all very attractive.

The size of the district was also appealing. I really like the small environment and how you can really get to know teachers, parents and students.

Plus, I knew Dr. Doebert and what a great leader she is. It's great to come into a situation where you know the administration runs a tight ship. Good superintendents have strong reputations in the area—Sandy certainly does.

PATCH: How familiar were you with Lemont when you applied for the position?

TICKNOR: I live nearby in Lisle, so I've gotten to know Lemont. I know it’s a community that values education. There’s diversity, there’s affluence, there's middle class. It's just a great community.

PATCH: Your current district has seven elementary schools and two middle schools. Do you think it will be difficult transitioning to a high school environment?

TICKNOR: I think it will be great to be back in a high school environment. I was in a K-8 elementary district for eight years, which was great, but I’m a former high school teacher and principal so I'm excited to get back to that setting.

With any new job, there needs to be time for transition. Sandy and I have already made plans. The transition doesn’t start July 1, it starts Tuesday after my contract is formally approved. We have a series of dates set up for meetings, and I’ll be involved to the greatest degree possible so when July 1 comes we can make that smooth transition.

I really don’t want everything be new the day I officially start. I’d like to ease in and have it not be a big deal.

PATCH: Do you have any immediate goals for yourself or the district?

TICKNOR: The number one priority is to get to know the culture, the climate, the staff and the students. I really have three goals: watch, listen and learn. I say this jokingly, but I mean it, Lemont High School District 210 has managed to get along pretty well without me for some time, so I think I’m inheriting a good situation.

I think the best thing a new superintendent can do is learn as much as possible, listen as much as possible and just work on building relationships.

PATCH: What are some of the biggest obstacles you think District 210 will be faced with in the coming months and years?

TICKNOR: Like most school districts in Illinois, we need to try to figure out how to maintain the same level of excellence with a budget that continues to shrink. I'm very much aware that the district has budget reductions to make over the course of the next three years. I realize there are tough decisions to be made, but we will not make them in isolation.

I think I’ll look to build on what Dr. Doebert and the administration has already done. There are going to be challenges, but the tough decisions will be made.

PATCH: How do you plan to maintain the same level of education in the face of those budget constraints?

TICKNOR: I think it’s a matter of everything being on the table ... It comes down to what the community values and what is mandated by the state. We'll have to look at what’s mandated, what kind of participation we have in certain programs and what return we're getting on our investments.

In addition to looking at ways to reduce the budget, I think it's equally as important to look at other revenue options that might be available. School districts must be very aggressive in seeking out new sources of revenue. That's something that will definitely be a challenge.

PATCH: Speaking of sources of revenue, District 210 superintendents have historically been very active in lobbying for Impact Aid, which reimburses school districts for property tax money lost to government property. (District 210 receives Impact Aid payments for , part of which is located within the high school's boundaries.) How familiar are you with Impact Aid, and do you plan to continue the district's efforts?

TICKNOR: I still have to take a look at everything that goes along with this responsibility, but I know I'd be more than happy to be involved at that level. I haven't personally worked in a district that receives Impact Aid, but I am somewhat familiar with it. Could I walk in and say expert? No, absolutely not. There will be a learning curve, but I know I have good resource in Sandy Doebert.

Impact Aid is a source of revenue for the district that has to be protected. You have to be very aware of what's going on with policy and legislation at the national level. It's something I plan to become more educated on and more involved with, ultimately.

PATCH: Your current district comprises nine schools and about 4,000 students. How will it be different managing a one-school district that serves a much smaller student population?

TICKNOR: There are certain responsibilities that are the same regardless of the size of the district. One advantage to being in a small, one-building district is that I will be more visible and will be able to pop into classrooms to see what's going on currently. When you’re spread to nine different schools and the central office is in one village, it’s hard to be as visible among the staff and students as you would like to be. It will be great to be able to build relationships in a smaller environment.

I just think with any new job you have to learn the culture and adapt. It's a matter of being very watchful, doing a lot of listening and a lot of learning. I really look forward to that.

PATCH: You've held several different positions over the course of your career, from teacher to principal to associate superintendent. Was becoming a superintendent always the goal?

TICKNOR: Definitely, and I was ready. I've been very selective about where I've applied because I knew that sooner or later I would likely get a job and I wanted it to be right.

I've always been very concerned about the community. I knew I would need to be in a community that supports education and where the people support their schools. I wanted an environment where there are high expectations—a place where we want the students to do well and where we're always looking for ways to improve. I see that here. The administration and the teachers are always looking for ways to do better.

When this position came open, I thought, "This is the perfect fit."

Get to Know Mary Ticknor

• Ticknor has served District 181 since 2004, when she took over as principal for Hinsdale Middle School.

• In 2007, Ticknor became District 181’s assistant superintendent for human resources. She has served as an associate superintendent since 2008—first as associate superintendent/chief of operations (2008-2010) and currently as associate superintendent for human resources.

• Over the past four years, she has been charged with oversight and management of the district, which comprises seven elementary schools and two middle schools and serves 4,000 students across Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Oak Brook and Willowbrook.

• Prior to her time in District 181, Ticknor worked in education for 20 years in South Dakota. She served in both public and private school settings, and within elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.

• She holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of South Dakota (1983), as well as a master's degree in education from South Dakota State University (1990). She earned a Specialist of Education from the University of South Dakota in 2009, and is on track to receive a Doctorate of Education this spring.

• Ticknor and her husband, Duane, reside in Lisle, and have one adult son, David. 

• Duane currently serves as an assistant coach for the Changwon LG Sakers of the Korean Basketball League. He has served as a head coach in the NBA's Developmental League, the Continental Basketball Association and the International Basketball Association.