Elmhurst District 205 School Board has announced its approval of Jessica Hurt as the next principal of York High School following an inclusive and thorough hiring process that included public input.
“All of the candidates for this position brought an enormous amount of experience, professionalism and talent with them,” said Dr. Keisha Campbell, District 205 superintendent. “Hurt’s strong track record of building systems and cultures that both drive student success and leave a lasting positive impact on the entire school community, coupled with being an articulate, knowledgeable, and confident leader regarding all aspects of curriculum and instruction have provided her with the skills and knowledge to successfully lead York High School. We are honored that Ms. Hurt chose to join District 205 and I look forward to working with her to create strong systems and relationships that drive student success at York.”
The District received 35 applications for the position and 13 were selected for initial screening, after which five candidates were identified as finalists.
Community input was incorporated into the hiring process through survey responses and focus groups. In total, nearly 500 York parents, guardians, staff, students and community members provided feedback to create a profile of who the York High School principal should be.
Hurt brings 20 years of experience as a leader in education with a diverse portfolio which includes three administrative positions, 13 years as a social studies teacher, serving five years as department chair, as well as overseeing a group of more than 25 educators.
Hurt has spent the last 16 years at Hinsdale Central High School, where she began as a teacher of World Cultures, AP Government & Politics, Civics and Global Issues. She excelled from the Social Studies department chair to assistant principal for operations and, most recently, assistant principal for curriculum and instruction.
“The first words that come to mind when reflecting on Ms. Hurt’s leadership are caring, innovative, collaborative, and intelligent,” said Hinsdale Central principal William C. Walsh. “She is a valued member of our school community, who utilizes resources available to her, but she is also a genuine person who brings a high level of energy to the school culture. Ms. Hurt works collaboratively with the Parent Teacher Organization, community leaders and Hinsdale Central staff to develop programs that target students’ academic capacity and learning environment.”
“I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be the next principal of York High School,” said Hurt. “I look forward to working closely with the York students, staff and community to implement effective methods of school improvement in academics and to continue building a strong school culture that both honors and elevates the York High School history and defines what it means to be a York Duke.”
Recently awarded the 2022 Assistant Principal of the Year for the DuPage Region by the Illinois Principals Association, Hurt graduated magna cum laude from Illinois State University, where she earned a bachelor of science, social science & secondary education. She later received a Masters in educational leadership from Aurora University, an Educational Specialist degree in educational administration-superintendent from Northern Illinois University and is currently completing a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in educational leadership and policy studies from Northern Illinois University, with anticipated completion in 2023.
