The Board has the responsibility to hire and set goals for just one individual—the Superintendent. We then hold that person accountable for those goals and evaluate the Superintendent based on outcomes pertaining to those goals.  Our Board chooses to manage the Superintendent with a multiyear contract that is annually updated with mutually-amended goals. With a multiyear contract, the Superintendent does not have tenure status.  If the Board is not satisfied with the Superintendent’s performance, then it is the Board’s responsibility to replace that person with someone they feel will be better able to direct the District.

The Board works very closely with the Superintendent in setting policy and direction for the District. Board members are often not educators by trade and tend to rely on the educational expertise and judgment of their Superintendent when making decisions. It is extremely important for a Board to allow a Superintendent to make the choices she feels are necessary to achieve the goals defined for the District.  If that does not occur, and the Board makes the decisions on how to accomplish goals, then the Board has no right to hold her accountable for the outcomes.  

The Superintendent of Barrington CUSD 220 is Dr. Mary Herrmann.  Dr. Herrmann is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.S., 1977; M.S., 1980; Ph.D., 1995).  She spent the first 17 years of her career in Wisconsin, where she held the positions of teacher, high school guidance counselor, Assistant Principal, and Principal.  She left Wisconsin in 1994 for Grosse Pointe, Michigan, after being recruited for the position of Principal at Grosse Pointe South High School.  In 1996, Dr. Herrmann moved to Illinois with her husband, Scott (a middle school Principal), and her two children, Jessica (currently in graduate school), and Zachary (working toward his Bachelors Degree).  Prior to joining District 220, Dr. Herrmann was the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at New Trier High School in Winnetka.  It’s now been almost six years since she has joined the Barrington CUSD 220 educational community.  After serving two years as Associate Superintendent, Dr. Herrmann was promoted to Superintendent of Schools when Jon Lamberson resigned to take a position at Lake Forest Community High School District 115.  For recreation, Dr. Herrmann enjoys running.  She has competed in several marathons, including the Chicago Marathon, and, more recently, has participated in half marathons with her entire family.

During the time she has been Superintendent, Dr. Herrmann has reinvigorated District 220’s focus on students and instruction as well as overseen the completion of the massive overhaul of our school facilities.  Her dedication to student learning and continuous improvement has attracted many other educational leaders to join District 220.