On Tuesday, April 25, Evanston/Skokie School District 65 announced that Andalib Khelghati has been appointed to one of the district’s top posts and will serve as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1. The recommendation by Superintendent Paul Goren was unanimously approved (6-0) by the School Board at their meeting on Monday, April 24. Mr. Khelghati is currently serving as the principal of Dewey Elementary.
“I could not be more pleased to have Andalib join our senior leadership team. He was an ideal candidate for this important role and brings a depth of knowledge of our school district and our community. He has a deep understanding of our instructional core and is a champion of racial and educational equity. He will be an asset to our work and a great thought partner,” said Superintendent Goren.
In his new role, Mr. Khelghati will be responsible for leadership and oversight of all elementary, middle, and magnet schools. He will manage the overall delivery of curriculum services to improve student achievement working closely with Stacy Beardsley who leads the district’s curriculum and instruction department. He will be responsible for fostering growth and professional learning for principals in addition to serving as a trusted resource and advisor for teachers and school administrators. Mr. Khelghati will serve as an integral member of the district leadership team and will report to Superintendent Goren. He will replace John Price who was recently appointed to serve as Superintendent in North Chicago District 187 and will start on July 1.
“I am both honored and excited to step into this new role. This is a tremendous community with a strong vision for student success. I look forward to working alongside our teachers, principals, and district administrative team to ensure student growth and continued success for all schools,” said Mr. Khelghati. “Dewey is a truly special community and I am grateful for my tenure in this school. I have continually been impressed by the spirit and commitment to children that drives the teachers and parents who work so hard to make this an excellent place of learning.”
Donna Sokolowski who is currently serving as the assistant principal at Dewey has been appointed by Dr. Goren as the interim principal for the 2017-2018 school year. The search process for a full-time principal will begin next school year and will incorporate feedback from the school community.
Andalib Khelghati has been an educator and a school leader for over 20 years. As the principal of Dewey Elementary for the past six years, he has worked collaboratively with teachers and families in promoting an agenda focused on strengthening the school to support all students. Prior to joining the Dewey team, he was a teacher at both the elementary and middle school level and held previous roles as a literacy staff developer and an assistant principal. Mr. Khelghati has a Master’s Degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College and recently earned his doctoral degree in Urban Education Leadership at the University of Illinois Chicago.