'Terror Instead Of Trust': Petition Calls For Removal Of 3 Orland D135 Leaders

ORLAND PARK, IL — A petition calling for the removal of three top District 135 officials is gaining steam, with 500 signatures in 24 hours.

The online petition—titled "Restore Integrity in Orland School District 135"—points to "unsettling actions" by Superintendent Dr. John Bryk, Associate Superintendent Dave Snyder and Director of HR Suzanne Owens as the cause of the district's issues.

As controversy surrounds the district and its board of education over the hiring of one administrator and the ousting of two others, concerned parents seek community support intended to push the board to action on "the power three" of Bryk, Snyder and Owens.

"These individuals have, through their positions, instilled a sense of terror instead of trust, which has severely affected the morale of our educators and the quality of education provided by our schools," the petition reads. "Their leadership has been fraught with decisions that have methodically dismantled the district's once-respected reputation and forced many talented educators to leave, leaving our children at a disadvantage."

The petition was created this week, as the board attempts to right a ship rocked by controversy over the hiring of Century Junior High Assistant Principal Tremaine Harris. Community members, staff and alumni on July 28 accused the board of negligence in Harris' hiring, with allegations of poor vetting, lack of experience and oversight of content some found offensive on Harris' social media.

Harris was hired in July, and though the public called for his job offer to be rescinded at a July 28 special meeting, Harris remains in place and was introduced via the district's social media Wednesday, alongside new Principal Jeana Naujokas.

Following the July 28 meeting, some indicated that Harris' hiring—and the outrage around it—is indicative of more deep-rooted leadership issues within the district. Parents said that their upset was compounded by the shock around position changes of beloved former Century administrators Dr. Brian Horn and Dr. Heather Conrad.

Both were shifted out of their principal and assistant principal roles, respectively, at the end of the school year and with no public explanation, one parent told Patch. Horn had served as principal at Century since 2012, according to his LinkedIn, and Conrad became assistant principal in 2019.

In May, board members approved Horn's resignation as principal at Century effective June 30, and his assignment as a language arts teacher at Jerling Junior High effective Aug. 18.

Previously in March, board members approved a resolution for non-renewal of Conrad's administrator contract, and her reclassification as a teacher within the district. She'll teach at Orland Junior High this year.

Some have since called for the resignations or removals of Bryk, Associate Superintendent Dave Snyder and HR Director Suzanne Owens.

MORE ON THIS:

• 'We Do Hear You': District 135 Reacts To Controversy Over Hiring, Removal Of Staff, Promises Transparency
• Controversy Over New Hire Prompts Demands For Orland District Officials To Resign, Reinstate Former Staffers
• D135 Board Distances Itself From Hiring Process As Controversy Over New Administrator Continues

The board this week openly mulled its role in the hiring decision moving forward, the district's ability to retain staff and encourage internal ascension into leadership roles, and the board's transparency with the public. Board members reached a consensus that they'd seek greater involvement in the last steps of the hiring process for administrative roles, though specifics have not yet been formalized.

"The community is asking for change, begging for change," said board member Patti Thanos at the board's committee of the whole meeting on Monday. "... How did we get here? I’m sorry to hear there are members of this district who feel unloved, unsupported and fearful."

Read more comments from Monday night's meeting here.

Retired teacher Kevin Pajeau said the community is calling for action. Pajeau worked within the district for 40 years, and is concerned about the three leaders' influence over the board.

"That’s not the job of a board member," Pajeau said. "A board member’s job is to oversee the district, and right now the community’s speaking, and the board’s not hearing it."

Commenters at two meetings on Monday spoke of a purportedly toxic culture within the district, an issue rooted in its leadership, Pajeau said.

"It’s continuous, it’s not just me," he said. "I have ex-students reaching out to me, parents of ex-students. Former administrators. Enough’s enough. The morale in that district’s not good."

Retired District 135 teacher Jackie Ripoli spoke with Patch on Thursday.

"I’ve known that our culture had changed drastically," she said, "and in a short period of time."

Administrators under fire

Turmoil over the administration is not new in District 135.

Bryk first served as the district's assistant superintendent for human resources and operations from 2015-2019, before being appointed interim superintendent in 2019, following former Superintendent DJ Skogsberg's resignation. Skogsberg left amid a sex discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by Conrad. Specifically, she accused former Superintendent DJ Skogsberg of failing to promote her because she declined his sexual advances. Skogsberg resigned in June 2019. In July 2019, Conrad settled the suit and was named an assistant principal at Century.

Bryk's was hired permanently for superintendent role in 2020. The board of education in 2024 approved an extension to his contract, keeping him in place through the end of the 2027-2028 school year.

"Superintendent Bryk has prioritized clear and consistent communication with all stakeholders through various parent educational sessions addressing topics such as vaping, internet safety, and social-emotional learning," the district wrote in an announcement at the time. "The launch of a new website, communication platform, and new mediums of news dissemination with the District Digest and the Podcast illustrate John’s commitment to keeping all stakeholders informed throughout the school year.

"... Taking the helm of Orland School District 135 in July 2019 during a challenging period, Superintendent John Bryk has led the District to significant achievements. This contract extension ensures his continued leadership, propelling Orland School District 135 towards even greater success."

Ripoli said Bryk's actions have negatively impacted the district.

"I do not understand how our board has reissued another contract for John Bryk," Ripoli said. "Are they not investigating? I know it’s a new board, but I just don’t understand how they haven’t investigated. I do believe our new board got their eyes opened this past meeting. My eyes and my heart—I was just so emotional when I walked out of there at the impact at enough people had the courage to speak up."

Dozens of speakers took to the podium in the back-to-back meetings Monday, with longtime teacher Diane Forystek lamenting the removal of Horn and Conrad and saying Bryk, Owens and Snyder were responsible for vetting their replacements — which she feels was not adequately done.

Ripoli on Thursday said she's concerned about the impact on students.

"The biggest concern is, there is a trickle-down effect to our students," she said. "... Century having the best principal and ass’t principal combination, and that team of 2, they held our concerns, our worries, they supported us and believed in us. Even when we made mistakes, they would stand by us.

"That’s not how it works at the district office. I know they’re business-oriented people. I do not feel that they put the students as their top priority, as our teachers and administrators in our buildings will. It’s our responsibility as teachers to put the kids as number one. I don’t know how you let go of two incredibly efficient and aware principals."

Pajeau, whose father sat on the board years ago and whose mother served as a paraprofessional within the district, said the board needs to correct course.

"Things need to change," Pajeau said, also nothing that Snyder implemented standards-based grading, "which staff and parents didn’t want."

"... what they did to Horn and Conrad was wrong," he added. "The parents liked them, the staff liked them. And they were overqualified."

The petition calls for "a change that aligns with the values of respect, transparency, and cooperation," going on to say:

"Our demand is clear: remove John Bryk, Dave Snyder and Suzanne Owens from their positions and restore the leadership of District 135 to individuals who genuinely understand and respect the community's needs."

'We’re not getting the cream of the crop anymore'

Ripoli said that while she understands the call for removing the three, she worries about the stability of the district, should that step be taken.

"I just feel very concerned for the school district," she said. "We’d better have a plan in place for who’s going to step in. ... It’s not my place to tell the board what to do.

"They need to hear from enough people—but what’s the plan next?"

Pajeau is concerned for the district's reputation and, tangentially, its ability to attract qualified applicants moving forward.

"The word on the street is, people don’t want to come to Orland anymore," Pajeau said. "This used to be a district that everybody wanted to be in. We’re not getting the cream of the crop anymore.

"How would you like to be the staff at Century right now, with the mess that they’ve created?"

A source wishing to remain anonymous called on the board to act.

"The petition is a clear call to action from a large and growing number of community members who are demanding the school board take action to restore the respect, integrity, and reputation of the district," the source told Patch. "The school board must do what’s best for the community to repair the harm and restore faith by removing Bryk, Snyder, and Owens."