The Consolidated High School District 230 School Board announced Thursday evening that they have voted unanimously to hire Dr. Robert J. Nolting as the district’s next Superintendent following the retirement of Dr. James M. Gay.

“We knew after meeting with Dr. Nolting that D230 is a very important part of his life and he has the dedication necessary to be successful as Superintendent,” said Board President Tony Serratore.

“He has a plan to take D230 to the next level and make us the best district in the state. The Board looks forward to working with Dr. Nolting as he works to make this happen. His energy and enthusiasm as well as his love of the district will penetrate to the entire D230 family. We are confident that Dr. Nolting will not only build on the legacy of Dr. Gay but will also create one of his own.”

“I am very appreciative to the School Board and my colleagues for their support,” said Dr. Nolting. “I have been in District 230 for the past 17 years and have an incredible amount of pride, loyalty, and investment in not only the Andrew community, but the Sandburg and Stagg communities as well.”

Dr. Nolting currently is Principal of Andrew High School, a position he has held since 2009. He served as Associate Principal for Instruction at both Sandburg and Andrew High Schools between 2004 and 2009. Prior to joining District 230 in 2004, Dr. Nolting was a social studies teacher and coach at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy, and Athletic and Activities Director at Franklin High School in Wisconsin.

Passion, Vision, and Engagement

“I promise to be a leader that has passion for students, vision for a 21st Century school district, and a strong desire to be both collaborative and responsive to all stakeholders within our school community,” Dr. Nolting said.

“I have the unusual reality of moving from my absolute dream job as Principal of Andrew High School to a position that has become a goal of mine as the Superintendent of Consolidated High School District 230. Throughout my time as Superintendent, I know people may question decisions or views I have, but I will make sure they never question my integrity, motivation, and work ethic along the way.”

Dr. Nolting earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater in 1996, a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2002, and will graduate with a Doctorate and Superintendent’s Endorsement from the University of St. Francis on December 12.

Dr. Nolting’s leadership extends beyond the boundaries of District 230 as he has been active on the IHSA Board of Control since 2013 serving as Vice President and Secretary. He has served on the Illinois Principals Association (IPA) Legislative Commission since 2017 and he served on the Southwest Suburban Conference (SWSC) Executive Board for three years.

In 2017, Dr. Nolting was named Illinois Principal of the Year and in 2016 he was South Cook Principal of the Year. He has twice been nominated for the Illinois Golden Apple Award. His 2004 Most Outstanding TBolt Award for bestowed upon him by the student body holds special meaning for him.

Smooth Transition

On Thursday night, the School Board approved a three-year contract with Dr. Nolting that will begin on July 1, 2021.

The School Board and Dr. Gay are committed to making the transition a smooth one for Dr. Nolting and the entire district community. In preparation for the July 1 transition, over the coming months, they will work to fill the Principal position at Andrew High School as well.

“I would be remiss to not share the respect and admiration I have for Dr. Gay,” Nolting said. “He has been a role model, advisor, and mentor since he hired me in 2004. I honestly do not believe I would have even considered this position unless he showed me the level of confidence he had in my leadership capacity and vision. It will be an incredible advantage to work closely with him throughout the rest of this year to successfully transition into my new role.”