In February, Dr. Shannon Dudek announced his resignation as superintendent of schools, effective June 30, 2025. At that time, the Board of Education began its search for our new superintendent. Today, we are thrilled to announce that Dr. Marie Stover will be the next superintendent of Morris Elementary School District 54, and she will officially assume this role on July 1, 2025.
Selecting a superintendent to lead the district is a school board’s most important responsibility. After a search that considered 22 applicants, conducted 6 first-round interviews, and held 3 final-round interviews, Dr. Stover was selected as our next superintendent. We trust in Dr. Stover’s ability to lead Morris Elementary District 54. She is committed to the social-emotional well-being of students and the creation of safe, supportive school environments. Her educational vision and goals align with the Board’s goal of maintaining fiscal responsibility; Dr. Stover has demonstrated this by securing critical state and federal grant funding to support student success and district financial stability. Her unwavering dedication, exceptional professionalism, and thorough understanding of the district have greatly benefited our community.
Dr. Stover has extensive experience in education as both a teacher and administrator. She has worked for District 54 for nine years, serving as a student services coordinator, and, since 2021 as assistant superintendent. Her outstanding contributions and strong leadership qualities have consistently been on display during her time in our district. In addition to her roles within District 54, Dr. Stover has served as an adjunct professor, an advisory board member for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a committee member for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Homeland Security: Targeted Violence Prevention Committee and School Safety Working Group, and is a 2024 recipient of the Illinois State Board of Education - Those Who Excel Award of Special Recognition.
Morris School District 54 welcomes this new chapter, and The Board of Education is confident that Dr. Stover's leadership and commitment to our community will result in a smooth and successful transition. Her dedication to student success is proven, and we are certain she will continue to build upon it as superintendent. Dr. Stover cares deeply about our staff, students and families, and we are excited about her vision to create a supportive, interconnected community in order to best support the diverse needs of our students. We are excited about the continued impact of her leadership and the promising future for our district.