The Barrington 220 Board of Education is pleased to announce it has selected Dr. Robert Hunt as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Hunt’s contract was unanimously approved at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting, and he will officially begin his duties on July 1, 2021. He will succeed Dr. Brian Harris, who is retiring on June 30 after 34 years in public education.
Dr. Hunt’s selection is the culmination of a months-long national search process that included input from Barrington 220 stakeholders and produced highly qualified applicants from diverse geographic and professional backgrounds.
“This past fall, stakeholders were given the opportunity to provide input on the qualities desired in the district’s next superintendent,” said Board President Penny Kazmier. “Based on this criteria, the Board is confident Dr. Hunt is the right person to become our next superintendent. We were impressed by his commitment to the development of the whole child, placing equal importance on both the academic and social-emotional success of students. Dr. Hunt demonstrates the leadership style and desire to build personal relationships, which the Board believes will serve the Barrington 220 community well. We are grateful he has accepted our invitation to join our district and look forward to him becoming a part of our community.”
Dr. Hunt brings significant experience and leadership in education, most recently as the Superintendent of Schools for Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District in Chagrin Falls, OH, where he has served since 2012. In 2020 Dr. Hunt was named “Ohio Superintendent of the Year” by the AASA (American Association of School Administrators).
“I was drawn to Barrington 220 both because of its school system and community,” Dr. Hunt said.
“The Barrington 220 School District has a national reputation of providing innovative and comprehensive educational programs that meet the needs of all students. The community is equally impressive. I recently had the opportunity to visit the area on multiple occasions and quickly recognized the level of community pride and engagement in the schools. I am excited to have the opportunity to work collaboratively with the staff, Board of Education and community to continue the tradition of excellence in Barrington 220.”
Prior to serving as Superintendent of Schools of Chagrin Falls Schools, Dr. Hunt served for one year as Superintendent of Schools for the Streetsboro City School District in Ohio. Previously, he served Chagrin Falls Schools in a variety of roles including high school assistant principal, high school principal and assistant superintendent. His career began as a middle school English teacher and athletic director, then eventually assistant principal at the Kenston Local School District in Ohio.
Since 2006 Dr. Hunt has served as an adjunct professor for Ursuline College, teaching graduate courses in school law and finance and educational administration. He served on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators for five years and was president of the organization from 2009-2010.
In 2020, Dr. Hunt received the prestigious Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Ohio Superintendent Outstanding Performance Award, which recognizes exceptional leadership with a commitment to deep learning and excellent teaching. In 2007, he was named “Ohio Principal of the Year” by the National Association of Secondary School Administrators, as well as “Ohio Educational Library and Media Administrator of the Year”.
Dr. Hunt holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Kent State University and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Ursuline College. He obtained his Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Kent State University.
About Barrington 220
About the Barrington 220 School District
Barrington 220 is a nationally recognized school district which educates nearly 9,000 students in grades preK-12. Our district is located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, serving students in Lake, Cook, McHenry and Kane Counties. We have one high school, two middle schools, eight elementary schools and one early learning center. Our schools have earned a total of 11 National Blue Ribbon Awards and nearly 90% of our teachers have earned a master’s degree or higher. In 2020 Barrington 220 was named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation and a “Top Workplace in Chicagoland” by the Chicago Tribune. Learn more at Barrington220.org.
