New school superintendent takes over this month
A new superintendent has returned to familiar territory.
Dr. Warletta Brookins is the new superintendent of Madison District 12. She replaces Evelyn Kelly, who retired at the end of June after serving for six years.
“I am excited and honored to be able to return to the metro-east area and serve as superintendent for Madison Community School District,” Brookins said. “The district has made great strides and I welcome the opportunity to carry the mantle forward.”
Brookins, a native of East St. Louis, began teaching in East St. Louis District 189 nearly 30 years ago. She is a former reporter for the Belleville News-Democrat, Peoria Journal Star and for radio stations in the metro-east, Peoria and Chicago. She has served in educational leadership positions with the Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago Public Schools, DuPage County Regional Office of Education and the city of Peoria, and has taught in Peoria Public Schools.
For the last six years, she has served as superintendent of Pembroke Community Consolidated School District in Hopkins Park, Ill. She has studied abroad in Rome, Italy, and serves as an adjunct professor in the Superintendent’s Cohort at Governor’s State University.
Brookins said the Madison board was “supportive, positive and encouraging.”
“They carry a commitment to seeing creative things happen to benefit the students in the district, as well as the community as a whole,” she said. “I was received with open arms by local leaders, staff and students... I am very enthusiastic and grateful to be part of the Madison School District community.”
Board president Marie Nelson said they conducted an extensive search and are certain they chose the best candidate with “passion and commitment” for the students and community.
“She has a proven track record and we believe that with her extensive travels and studies, she can bring a global perspective and creative things to our district to take us to another level,” Nelson said.
Brookins has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Western Illinois University Macomb; a chief school business officials certification from Northern Illinois University; a master’s degree in educational leadership and human resource management from Bradley University in Peoria; and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University in Chicago.
She has received numerous leadership and community awards, including the 2015 Top Ladies of Distinction Orchid Award, Society of Mannequins Chicagoland Women’s Leadership Award, and the African-American Hall of Fame for Education in Peoria; the Kankakee Daily Journal 2016 Innovation Award of STEM in the Technology category, and a 2014 Apple ConnectED grant based on leadership.
This story was originally published July 7, 2016 at 3:21 PM with the headline "New school superintendent takes over this month."