Dr. Scott Estes, Associate Superintendent

After starting my college experience at Illinois Central College, I graduated from Bradley University in 1991 with a bachelors degree in elementary education. My graduation from college brought me back to District 86 where I taught third grade at Woodrow Wilson School, sixth grade social studies at Central Junior High School, and eighth grade history and reading at CJHS over the next nine years. After completing my masters degree in educational administration at Illinois State University in 2000, I became the principal of Glendale School for the next decade until the Board of Education hired me in 2010 as the district's associate superintendent. In May of 2012 I completed my Ed. Specialist degree at Eastern Illinois University and earned superintendent certification, and I completed my Doctorate in Education at Aurora University in the spring of 2016. I have always felt that if I was to focus my life on students' learning then I, also, need to be a learner.

My primary role in District 86 is to support the work of the Superintendent. While involved in a variety of initiatives in the district, my main responsibilities center around curriculum, instructional practices, professional development, human resources, assessment, and communications. I have served as the district's Title I Director since 2003 and in recent years began working with the Title II grant as well. The privilege to speak in front of audiences of educators often comes my way, and my presentations are focused on topics such as performance tasks, inquiry-based learning, visual literacy, primary source materials and text complexity, learning standards, writing, and other important subjects associated with teaching and learning. Teachers fascinate me, and I enjoy working with them to and provide support where needed.

I also work at times as an adjunct professor for Aurora University and Bradley University teaching graduate-level classes in leadership and curriculum and instruction. Currently, I serve on the advisory board for the Tazewell County Children's Advocacy Center which works to protect and support children who have experienced violence and abuse. I am also a board member for IL ASCD (Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) serving as a co-chair of Memberships and Partnerships as well as a member of the Clinical Committee Advisory Board for Bradley University's Department of Teacher Education. I hold membership in ASCD (the national organization associated with IL ASCD) as well as the Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of Title I Directors .

My wife, Danielle, was a third grade teacher in District 86, and we met while both working at Glendale School. We are blessed with a wonderful home and four beautiful children ages thirteen through six. We are very close to our immediate and extended family with whom we spend a great deal of time. Our home tends to be a gathering place for our family, and my wife and I love to host.

With a serious hunger for history, I travel annually with my history-teacher brother-in-law and a few of my closest friends on an annual "History Nerd Trip," visiting historical and governmental sites across the country. Reading about history is a favorite pastime, and my personal library is extensive. Most importantly to us, my family and I are active in our church where I serve as an adult Sunday School teacher as well as other areas as needed.