Hononegah Community High School District 207 board members have chosen a veteran education leader as the school’s next superintendent without conducting a search.
Rockford Public School’s longtime Superintendent Ehren Jarrett will return to Hononegah July 1, 2026, where he previously served as principal after his contract in Rockford expires. Hononegah officials approved a five-year, performance-based contract with Jarrett that will pay him $210,000 next school year, Board President David Kurlinkus said.
“His experience not only in Rockford, but when he was with Hononegah, being a superintendent that’s been exposed to a lot of different ideas and problems, and how to solve those problems,” Kurlinkus said. “I think that experience makes makes him a very, very good fit for Hononegah. He spent a considerable amount of time here and knows the lay of the land, OK. He’s aware of the high expectations for educational excellence the district has.”
Board members jumped at the chance to hire an experienced superintendent who was already familiar with Hononegah to succeed Michael Dugan who is retiring June 30, 2026, foregoing a national search process.
Although Kurlinkus said Jarrett’s salary will be more than what Dugan is making in his final year, it will be significantly less than what Jarrett is being paid in Rockford. According to information from Rockford Public Schools, Jarrett was paid $248,318 in fiscal year 2024. His salary in Hononegah will be a 15% pay cut from that level.
Credited with bringing much-needed stability to the Rockford school system, Jarrett has served as superintendent since 2013. Before Jarrett’s long-running tenure, the school system, including interim and acting superintendents, had blown through eight leaders in 13 years.
Now after 12 years at the helm, Jarrett announced that he would not seek another contract extension. He previously worked as a social studies teacher, assistant principal and principal in Hononegah.
Even as Jarrett is exiting the Rockford school system, he is offering more stability than the departures of some previous superintendents. Signing a contract a year in advance provides plenty of time for Dugan and Jarrett to collaborate for a smooth transition.
Although the two schools systems couldn’t be more different, Kurlinkus said Jarrett’s familiarity with Hononegah gives him an advantage.
Hononegah is a single high school district boasting a 95% graduation rate with 1,822 students, 80% of whom are white and 25% of whom are considered low income.
Rockford is a far more diverse school system with 27,268 students attending 44 schools including four traditional high schools with a 74% graduation rate. The student body is 25% White, 32% Hispanic, 31% Black and 4% Asian. Low-income students account for 74% of the district.
BWP & Associates was chosen from among 13 companies as the executive search firm to lead the search for Jarrett’s successor in Rockford.
Rockford School Board President Paul Carpenter said the plan is to have Rockford’s next superintendent chosen by Jan. 1.
Before then, Carpenter said the community will be given opportunities to have input on what residents want in their next superintendent via listening sessions, focus groups and surveys.
“Before Dr. Jarrett, it was a revolving door,” Carpenter said. “It was unfortunate and bad for the district. It was bad for students. It was bad for teachers. And it was bad for all staff to not have stability in that position.”
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Superintendent credited with stabilizing Rockford Public Schools has found his next job
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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