LM April 2026 - PUBLIC

He launched a community coffee series where residents could meet informally with district leadership at local spots around Park Ridge. Collins kept the events small and strategic, organizing themed sessions tied to specific programs. His team routed feedback through parent advisory groups before bringing it back to the broader community. “You’re positioning people to use their expertise and have their voices heard,” Collins said. “When you direct energy into the right channels, people leave feeling heard and valued.” That groundwork paid off. In fall 2024, voters approved an $89 million referendum—part of a $120 million construction project over four years. The funding is making it possible for Park Ridge to bring students with significant dis abilities back from out-of-district placements through centered programs at the elementary and middle school levels. Students with au tism, Down syndrome, and cognitive disabil ities now have specialized spaces that meet ADA compliance and allow them to participate in the broader school community. “We thought our kids deserve that,” Collins said. “They deserve to be part of the school community—to go to all the school events, PTO evenings, dances, pizza parties, movie nights, all the stuff that’s awesome to do in third grade.” The word is getting out. Families are moving into Park Ridge specifically because of the special education programs. “It’s a collaborative effort at every level,” Collins said. “The success belongs to the team doing the work every day.”

Beyond facilities, the district has seen significant academic gains with a third school added to the state’s exemplary rolls Park Ridge has increased the number of schools achieving exemplary status on state assessments, and the district has reduced suspensions by more than 50 percent over the past three years. Collins attributes the progress to alignment and improved curriculum. The district’s curriculum work is now more rooted in research and best practices. Board goals align directly to building improvement plans and classroom instruction, with instructional coaches supporting teachers on those same priorities. “When you have that alignment from the Board to the classroom level, it creates parity,” Collins said. “That’s why we’re seeing academic improvement.” Another major focus of Collins’ first three years has been labor relations—applying the same philosophy of structured communication and responsive leadership to the district’s three bargaining units. Union leaders now have direct access to district leadership in ways that are productive, with opportunities to give feedback well in advance so they feel like part of the team. Outside of Park Ridge, Collins remains active in professional associations. He previously served on the Illinois Principals Association Board and is currently involved in the School Leader Collaborative Conference. “If you have a great education experience, you have to give back in some shape or form,” Collins said. “It’s the best networking possible, and you’re really giving back to the profession.”

Want to nominate someone?

Contact Jason Nevel at jnevel@iasaedu.org

27 LM April 2026