VanAlstine earns promotion to top job
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Members of the Ball-Chatham Board of Education didn’t have to look too far to find the next Superintendent of Schools for the District,
as a familiar face has been picked to succeed the retiring Bob Gillum.
Carrie VanAlstine, 37, the Assistant Superintendent for the past eight years here, was named as Gillum’s successor at Monday’s
board meeting.
“I’m thrilled, it’s such an exciting time,” VanAlstine told the Clarion. “I’m honored, humbled and excited for the future and taking us to
that next step.”
VanAlstine was one of two finalists for the job, with the other person not being announced publicly. She first worked under Dr. Rich
Voltz as Asst. Supt. before Gillum came on board in the summer of 2007.
VanAlstine will receive a three-year contract, with final details being worked out. School board president Jim Neuses said that with
salary and benefits, the compensation package will be in the $185,000 per year range. And it took the board less than a week to settle on
VanAlstine after last week’s final interviews.
“Once you land on a great candidate, you go with it,” Neuses told the Clarion. “It came together in a week because we thought we
had the candidate right here to do the job for us. And she will do a great job for us.”
The board was unanimous in its approval of VanAlstine, Neuses added, both in discussions and in the final vote.
Gillum, who is retiring June 30, 2012, has worked side-by-side with VanAlstine since coming to Ball-Chatham.
“The stability of the district long-term is greatly enhanced with Carrie’s appointment,” he stated. “We’re very confident she’s going to
excel in whatever she does.
“In this case, it’s more than an endorsement,” Gillum said of his take on the hiring. “It was a whole-hearted pledge of confidence that
she’s capable of doing the job.”
“Bob’s been such an incredible mentor to me,” VanAlstine added. “Being right next to his office for the last five years has been great.
I’ve been able to take on some leadership roles and I’ve gotten a lot more experience because of the things I’ve been able to do hands-
on.”
VanAlstine shared the announcement with her children, Will and Ben, along with her mother, Becky Dorgan. Cake and punch were
served after the announcement.
VanAlstine’s current position involves principal evaluations, curriculum and instruction alignment and overseeing professional
development. She has also been involved with a number of projects, working in leadership roles as outlined by Gillum.
“Carrie has worked hard in the district during the shift to a more strategic model,” Gillum added. “She understands the concepts and
initiatives and knows where the district is headed.”
During the interview process, Neuses said, “Carrie was very impressive, both to the board and the committee. She has fresh ideas
to help kids learn better. Her leadership in the literacy initiative has taken us over the top with some of our kids and put our kids at
another level.”
And VanAlstine is fully aware of the challenges the district faces going forward, with an upcoming referendum expected next fall and
the for now placed on the back burner FitClub/St. John’s fitness center proposal.
“I have been a part of those conversations, and that’s the nice part of having an internal candidate,” VanAlstine stated.
VanAlstine is also the first-ever female superintendent in Ball-Chatham, adding she was “proud” and “honored” to have that
designation.
VanAlstine is a graduate of Mt. Zion High School, and her educational career has continued at Millikin University, Eastern Illinois
University, the University of Illinois-Springfield and Illinois State University. She is currently working on her dissertation for her Doctorate
degree at ISU. When that is completed in the next year or two, she will be known as Dr. VanAlstine.
VanAlstine added that she sees herself as a “collaborative leader. I’m not one to sit in the office all day; I want to go out and talk to
our staff and I like to be very visible and approachable. My door is always open.”
The position of Assistant Superintendent will be open once VanAlstine is officially promoted to the Superintendent job July 1, 2012.
She said that position will be posted sometime next year.
“We’re a team of eight with the superintendent and seven board members,” Neuses explained. “And for the next six months, we’ll be
a team of nine with Carrie added to that. She will be involved in everything that Bob is involved in for the next six months.”
The board worked with the Illinois Association of School Boards and consultant Tom Leahy throughout the process. There were a
total of 29 candidates at the start, with the pool shortened to seven and later two finalists.
A group of 11 school and community members joined the board last week for the final interview process.
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Members of the Ball-Chatham Board of Education didn’t have to look too far to find the next Superintendent of Schools for the District,
as a familiar face has been picked to succeed the retiring Bob Gillum.
Carrie VanAlstine, 37, the Assistant Superintendent for the past eight years here, was named as Gillum’s successor at Monday’s
board meeting.
“I’m thrilled, it’s such an exciting time,” VanAlstine told the Clarion. “I’m honored, humbled and excited for the future and taking us to
that next step.”
VanAlstine was one of two finalists for the job, with the other person not being announced publicly. She first worked under Dr. Rich
Voltz as Asst. Supt. before Gillum came on board in the summer of 2007.
VanAlstine will receive a three-year contract, with final details being worked out. School board president Jim Neuses said that with
salary and benefits, the compensation package will be in the $185,000 per year range. And it took the board less than a week to settle on
VanAlstine after last week’s final interviews.
“Once you land on a great candidate, you go with it,” Neuses told the Clarion. “It came together in a week because we thought we
had the candidate right here to do the job for us. And she will do a great job for us.”
The board was unanimous in its approval of VanAlstine, Neuses added, both in discussions and in the final vote.
Gillum, who is retiring June 30, 2012, has worked side-by-side with VanAlstine since coming to Ball-Chatham.
“The stability of the district long-term is greatly enhanced with Carrie’s appointment,” he stated. “We’re very confident she’s going to
excel in whatever she does.
“In this case, it’s more than an endorsement,” Gillum said of his take on the hiring. “It was a whole-hearted pledge of confidence that
she’s capable of doing the job.”
“Bob’s been such an incredible mentor to me,” VanAlstine added. “Being right next to his office for the last five years has been great.
I’ve been able to take on some leadership roles and I’ve gotten a lot more experience because of the things I’ve been able to do hands-
on.”
VanAlstine shared the announcement with her children, Will and Ben, along with her mother, Becky Dorgan. Cake and punch were
served after the announcement.
VanAlstine’s current position involves principal evaluations, curriculum and instruction alignment and overseeing professional
development. She has also been involved with a number of projects, working in leadership roles as outlined by Gillum.
“Carrie has worked hard in the district during the shift to a more strategic model,” Gillum added. “She understands the concepts and
initiatives and knows where the district is headed.”
During the interview process, Neuses said, “Carrie was very impressive, both to the board and the committee. She has fresh ideas
to help kids learn better. Her leadership in the literacy initiative has taken us over the top with some of our kids and put our kids at
another level.”
And VanAlstine is fully aware of the challenges the district faces going forward, with an upcoming referendum expected next fall and
the for now placed on the back burner FitClub/St. John’s fitness center proposal.
“I have been a part of those conversations, and that’s the nice part of having an internal candidate,” VanAlstine stated.
VanAlstine is also the first-ever female superintendent in Ball-Chatham, adding she was “proud” and “honored” to have that
designation.
VanAlstine is a graduate of Mt. Zion High School, and her educational career has continued at Millikin University, Eastern Illinois
University, the University of Illinois-Springfield and Illinois State University. She is currently working on her dissertation for her Doctorate
degree at ISU. When that is completed in the next year or two, she will be known as Dr. VanAlstine.
VanAlstine added that she sees herself as a “collaborative leader. I’m not one to sit in the office all day; I want to go out and talk to
our staff and I like to be very visible and approachable. My door is always open.”
The position of Assistant Superintendent will be open once VanAlstine is officially promoted to the Superintendent job July 1, 2012.
She said that position will be posted sometime next year.
“We’re a team of eight with the superintendent and seven board members,” Neuses explained. “And for the next six months, we’ll be
a team of nine with Carrie added to that. She will be involved in everything that Bob is involved in for the next six months.”
The board worked with the Illinois Association of School Boards and consultant Tom Leahy throughout the process. There were a
total of 29 candidates at the start, with the pool shortened to seven and later two finalists.
A group of 11 school and community members joined the board last week for the final interview process.
 | |  | |  | |  |
Issue Date: Dec. 15, 2011
