Dr. Kurt Rohlwing replaced Dr. Todd Leden as the new Superintendent of Schools for Kaneland School District 302 at the beginning of second semester.
Rohlwing shadowed Leden as deputy superintendent throughout the fall to prepare for the transition when Leden retired at the end of first semester. Leden worked as Kaneland’s superintendent for nine and a half years and has enjoyed his experience immensely before turning the job over to Rohlwing.
“Rohlwing has been really dedicated getting to know the people,” Leden said. “As I’ve said a number of times to our staff and community, education is really a people business.”
Rohlwing was hired for the job during the 2023-24 school year, and he went through a multi-stage interview and hiring process.
“On his resume, all of these [other candidates] put ‘Dr.,’ rightly so. They’ve earned it,” Board of Education President Addam Gonzales said. “But Kurt just put ‘Kurt Rohlwing.’ We didn’t find out that he had a doctorate until [we flipped] to the back of his resume. It shows a hint of modesty and a more personable aspect…we wanted someone that was relatable. Not someone who sits in the ivory tower, so to speak.”
Rohlwing’s experiences through the interviewing process and working as deputy superintendent have prepared him for the mid-school year shift in roles.
This transition had been planned, and it gave Rohlwing more time to prepare for the job. All of his preparation has also allowed the Kaneland community to see his true character and personable side, other than just his interviewee side.
“Every time I meet with him, you just feel like there’s a good connection,” Gonzales said. “I think it’s really his knowledge and ability to be personable that I like.”
Rohlwing has many plans for the rest of the school year and for his time as superintendent. One of his major focuses is making the April 1 referendum vote pass.
“My goal is that whatever the direction the board goes, my goal is that they pass it, and we are able to make some significant strides in terms of giving the community the type of high school they deserve,” Rohlwing said.
Rohlwing has reached out to members of the community regarding the contents of the referendum proposal. He held several town hall meetings throughout the Kaneland community and has reached out to each type of stakeholder within the district, including students, teachers and parents.
“I’ve had the opportunity to have small meetings with every group of staff [in different ways], and by doing that, outreach becomes less of a thing and just kind of a way we do business,” Rohlwing said.
Rohlwing and other administrators are working hard to communicate and get the public to vote in favor of the referendum since the previous attempt in April of 2023 was unsuccessful.
“[The day for the public to vote on the referendum] uncomfortably falls during spring break,” Rohlwing said. “So, if people will not be around, I encourage early voting.”
Rohlwing will continue to go into the community and attend various events to keep district residents updated on the referendum and his plans for the rest of the semester.
“I had such a great time in the fall getting out to different things,” Rohlwing said. “I look forward to seeing what the rest of the year entails.”
As for Leden, he is still trying to determine what he will do now that he is retired.
“I started school at the age of three or four, and that’s all I’ve done,” Leden said. “I’ve gone to school my whole life…I’ve loved [each experience, and] from all the different places [I’ve worked], I would definitely say that Kaneland is the best that I’ve had.”
