Dear District 64 Community,
Below is a communication shared with Roosevelt Elementary School families on Wednesday. We wanted to share it with everyone to celebrate Roosevelt Principal Dr. Dwyer as he prepares for retirement and to let you know of the plan moving forward.
Have a wonderful evening.
Sincerely,
Chris Lilly
(From Roosevelt Principal Dr. Kevin Dwyer)
Dear Roosevelt Families,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to share some news about my future. As we look to the 2025-2026 school year, I’ve made the difficult decision that next year will be my last as the Principal at Roosevelt. After my final year in the building, I will move to a one-year role at the district office before I retire. I want to express my gratitude for the memories we’ve created together and the support I’ve received throughout my time here.
I began my career in education in 1994 and had the pleasure of being a school principal for over 20 years. I will miss our students, families, staff, and our Park Ridge neighbors greatly. Roosevelt is a special place, and my efforts over the next two years will be devoted to making sure you are in the best of “hands.”
The future is bright, and there will be many special experiences for our entire school community to enjoy. The annual Tiger Trot began as a way to build a track for the school, and it has continued to be an important source of gifts back to our school. Our Veterans Day recognition is one of the finest in any school, and I enjoyed being a part of the annual Roosevelt V Show and watching the students perform on stage. I have many special lifelong memories, but I will always cherish my relationships with students, families, teachers, and staff the most. The Roosevelt staff are amazing. Their talent for teaching and heart for students is extraordinary. I have been fortunate to support them in their efforts.
Announcing my retirement plan now gives everyone time to prepare for the transition. Likewise, the district can leverage this time to attract a deep pool of qualified candidates. After my final year at Roosevelt following the 2025-26 school year, I will move to a one-year district office role to serve in some critical areas, such as school safety, which demand significant time and attention.
I’ve worked closely with Superintendent Dr. Ben Collins during this process and appreciate the district’s help. Dr. Collins wanted to share this message with families, outlining some of the next steps.
“We’d like to thank Dr. Dwyer for a great career in education, and we’re excited for him and his family as they start the next portion of their lives as he moves closer to retirement. Because of his tireless efforts with staff and families, Roosevelt is well-positioned for the future.
We will post the Roosevelt principal job opening sometime in the middle of next school year. Between now and then, we’ll actively recruit and seek great candidates. If anyone knows of any interesting candidates (many of you work in education or know someone who works in education), please send them my way. The plan is to name the new principal in the winter to allow for the greatest amount of transition time and to competitively get ahead of other districts that are hiring administrators.”
Once again, thank you to the entire Roosevelt community for your support and partnership during my tenure here. Your kindness and collaboration have made a significant impact.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dwyer