The superintendent of the Tri-Valley school district in Downs is one of three finalists for the top job in Bloomington’s District 87.
Current District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly previously announced plans to retire in June 2022. The school board on Thursday released the list of the three finalists to succeed him:
David Mouser, superintendent of Tri-Valley CUSD #3 in Downs. He has worked in education for 25 years and has served in his current role since 2014. Mouser was named an Illinois Association of School Administrators Superintendent of Distinction in 2020. During Mouser’s time as superintendent, all Tri-Valley schools earned the National Blue Ribbon Award.
Becca Lamon, assistant superintendent of the East Noble School Corporation in Kendallville, Ind. She has worked in education for 28 years and has served in her current role since 2013. Lamon is also an adjunct professor at Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Ind. Dr. Lamon received the Bellringer Award from the Indiana State Superintendent of Education in 2005.
David Deets, superintendent of Harmony-Emge School District #175 in Belleville. He has worked in education for 18 years, serving in his current role since 2018. He is currently the Southwestern Region President for the Illinois Association of School Administrators. Deets earned the Herman Graves award from the Illinois Principals Association in 2019.
Initially, 37 candidates applied for the job. The district’s search firm narrowed that list to 11 candidates, and the school board chose the three finalists.
School board members will interview the three finalists in the coming weeks and plan to name the new superintendent in December.
The new hire will start the job July 1.
District 87 is Bloomington-Normal’s smaller district, encircled by the larger Unit 5 district. District 87 has nine schools and nearly 5,000 students—about half of which are low-income.
