IVC school board names Allison superintendent

The Illinois Valley Central School District Board of Education voted to hire Chad Allison to be the new superintendent for the district.

Allison, who currently serves as superintendent of Litchfield C.U.S.D. No. 12, will replace Dr. Nick Polyak, who will leave the IVC District at the end of the school year. The vote came at the IVC Board of Education’s Jan. 26 meeting.

Polyak announced in November he will become the superintendent of the Leyden Community High School District in suburban Chicago in the 2013-14 school year. Allison will assume the IVC position at the end of the school year.

“The Board of Education is excited to have Chad leading our district into the future. His background and experience align well with the mission and objectives of our district,” said IVC Board president Mike Denzer.

Allison, a native of Bryan, Ohio, received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Bowling Green State University in Ohio; his Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville; and anticipates completion of his Executive Doctor of Education from Saint Louis University in August.

Allison comes to the IVC District with 16 years of experience in school administration.

He has served as superintendent at Litchfield since 2009. Litchfield district serves 1,539 pre-k through 12th grade students and approximately 250 certified and non-certified staff members.

From July 2005 to July 2009, he served as district superintendent at Mt. Olive C.U.S.D. No. 5. That district included 625 pre-K through 12th grade students and approximately 75 certified and non-certified staff members.    

Allison also served as principal at Belle Valley Elementary School, Belleville; director of curriculum at Collinsville High School, Collinsville; principal at Smithton C.C.S.D.; and as a grade school and high school language arts – English teacher at Highland Community Unit School District in Highland. He also served as a seventh and eighth grade girls’ basketball coach at Highland.

In addition to his academic roles, Allison has experience in a number of areas which parallel the environment at the IVC District. His experience includes work with strategic planning, bringing new technology to his district, collective bargaining with certified and non-certified staff and working with an educational foundation. Allison is currently working to develop a school-wide management program based on the components of positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS.)

Allison noted that the IVC superintendent’s job appealed to him on two levels, one in his professional role and another in his role as a father of three.

“My reason for applying for the position is very simple; I want my three young sons to have the chance to attend a district with the opportunities that exist at Illinois Valley Central,” Allison said.

Denzer and the IVC Board are impressed by Allison’s academic achievements, experience as well as his commitment to the belief that, “educational success must be based on each and every student we serve.”

Denzer adds, “I’m certain the staff and faculty at IVC, as well as the entire community, will be impressed by Chad’s professionalism, dedication to kids and his commitment to continuing our strong educational traditions.”

Allison is anxious to settle in the area.

“My wife Kristy and I are truly excited for the opportunity to join the IVC community,” he said. “Our first priority in relocating was finding a district we felt offered a quality education for our boys. I wasn’t looking for a new job, but rather a new place to truly call home. Based on everything we have seen, we are confident that is what we will find with IVC. We are looking forward to becoming part of the community and getting to know more of the people who make the IVC community so special.”