The superintendent of Illinois State University's laboratory schools is leaving that position after less than two years on the job.
Dana Kinley will move into a new role in ISU's College of Education effective immediately, according to an email sent to lab school parents Thursday night. No reason for Kinley's departure was given in the email.
Kinley became superintendent of ISU's Lab Schools in July 2018, overseeing Thomas Metcalf School and University High School in Normal. She succeeded Jeff Hill, who spent five years as lab schools chief before leaving in 2017 for the top job in Morton. Ty Wolf was interim superintendent between Hill and Kinley.
Kinley previously served for six years as the assistant superintendent for the Jacksonville, Ill., school district. She received her doctorate of education in school executive leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Kinley has also served in the field at the state level in a variety of capacities for the State Board of Education.
Barbara Meyer, an associate dean with COE, will serve as acting director of the lab schools while ISU seeks an acting superintendent.
"Dr. Meyer has a long history with the College of Education and the lab schools, and she has the full support of Principal Andrea Markert, Principal Amy Fritson Coffman, and me," wrote College of Education Dean Jim Wolfinger in the email to parents. "I would like to take this moment to thank Dr. Kinley for the service she provided to the lab schools and to ask that you welcome Dr. Meyer to her new leadership position."
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