New Administrator excited to join Chester School District

Chester Grade School will have a new administrator in the building this school year. Kyle Thompson has been employed by the Chester School District as the new Dean of Students at Chester Grade School. Thompson, originally from Decatur, Illinois, has spent the past five years teaching and coaching in the Windsor School District while continuing his education at Eastern Illinois University.

Thompson's title, Dean of Students, is very similar to that of a Vice Principal or Assistant Principal. As expected, assisting Principal Tim Lochhead is one of Thompson's numerous job requirements. His primary responsibilities, however, will include handling the majority of disciplinary issues at the school and leading the school improvement team. He will also be supervising athletic events and evaluating teacher performance, as well as assisting the school's curriculum director with staff development activities and student data analysis. These are just a few of the many tasks he will be undertaking, all while attempting to meet the individual needs of the students and faculty to the best of his ability.

So far, Thompson likes what he sees at the grade school. "Throughout the summer, I have been impressed with the amount of teachers visible, working at the school, all of whom have been very welcoming to 'the new guy,'" Thompson says. "Whether it is preparing classrooms for student arrival, establishing course schedules, or planning PLC (Professional Learning Community) activities, I have been humbled by the level of dedication many teachers have for their school. I also have to admit that the office secretaries provide a work atmosphere that is second to none."

"I want to thank Mr. Diddlebock, Mr. Lochhead, and the Chester School Board for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of this school district. Knowing it will not be easy to fill the shoes of the recently retired, extremely popular Debi Caraway, I have been working tirelessly this summer to prepare myself to serve the students and staff at Chester Grade School." Mr. Thompson can be contacted at the grade school at 826-2354 or by e-mail at kylethompson@chester139.com.