Homewood Flossmoor Superintendent Receives ISBE Award

Press release from Homewood-Flossmoor High School:

District 233 Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School is proud to announce that its superintendent, Dr. Von Mansfield, has been honored this year with an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Those Who Excel Award of Meritorious Service.

According to ISBE, Those Who Excel awards recognize individuals and teams for their invaluable contributions to their schools and communities. Awards of Excellence, Merit and Recognition are presented annually across multiple categories, including classroom teacher, school administrator, student support personnel and community volunteer.

Superintendent at H-F High School since 2008, Dr. Mansfield previously received a Those Who Excel Award of Excellence as principal of the school in 2004-05. This year he was nominated for the award by the Illinois Association of School Administrators - South Cook Region.

“I would like to congratulate Dr. Mansfield on this great honor,” says Steve Anderson, District 233 Board of Education president. “Nothing quite compares to being recognized by your peers for the work you’ve done throughout your career.”

Dr. Mansfield is actively involved in the community and is a member of several professional organizations, including Phi Delta Kappa, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the American Association of School Administrators. Currently, Dr. Mansfield serves as the vice chair of the College Board's Oak Circle Advisory Board and as a representative for the South Cook Region Illinois Association of School Administrators Governmental Relations & Advocacy Committee. In addition, he has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the College Board Board of Trustees and chair of the College Board Trustee Committee on Membership. He also held the appointed position of president of the Headmasters Association, which represents the top private and public schools in the nation, as well as president of the Southwest Suburban Conference of school districts, located in suburban Chicago. Dr. Mansfield also served on the Big Ten Advisory Commission, which supports minority athletes in the Big Ten.

“This award embodies what Dr. Mansfield has delivered to our school and students, and our entire community for more than 30 years: meritorious service. It is fitting that he be recognized in this way, and, as someone who has benefited greatly from his work, I am proud and overjoyed to see him receive this award,” says Gerald Pauling, District 233 Board of Education Vice President. Pauling is an alumnus of the school and parent of two alumni, plus a current H-F senior.

Through his leadership at H-F, Dr. Mansfield has shown how he truly cares about people by creating an environment where students, staff, community members and all stakeholders have a voice, says Jill Bonavia-Galligani, H-F Fine Arts and English teacher.

“He has an open-door policy, welcoming all of us to come in and discuss anything that is on our minds. He wants to know how people are feeling and what people are thinking, as truly outstanding leaders do,” says Bonavia-Galligani. “He is also forward-thinking and understands how critical it is to educate the whole person. Thus, he cares about the social-emotional growth of our students and supports opportunities for them to grow not only intellectually, but artistically and athletically, as well.”

While superintendent, Dr. Mansfield has overseen several academic and structural improvements to H-F, designed to benefit current and future students. Academic programs — including the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, the Media, Visual & Performing Arts (MVP) Academy and seven-day-per-week free tutoring — and facility improvements and additions — such as the renovation of the Viking Broadcasting Center, the rebuilding of the North Building Fieldhouse, renovation of multiple science labs and greenhouse, and the expansion of the South Building Fine Arts facilities — have all taken place under his leadership.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, ISBE did not hold an annual in-person reception for the award. An event — possibly virtual — will be planned in the coming months.

This press release was produced by Homewood-Flossmoor High School. The views expressed here are the author’s own.