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Home calls for Pennoyer chief
Superintendent Mike Lubelfeld visits a second-grade classroom Monday while they learn to use iPads at Pennoyer Elementary School in Norridge. Lubelfeld is leaving the district at the end of the year for Deerfield District 109. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 19, 2013 11:56AM
NORRIDGE — Pennoyer School’s superintendent will be moving on after the end of the school year.
After three years at the Norridge school, Michael Lubelfeld has accepted a similar position at Deerfield School District 109, beginning Aug. 1.
He will be leaving a one-school district with an enrollment of 417 to go to a six-school district with 3,100 students.
“This is my opportunity to serve my home community,” said Lubelfeld, a Deerfield resident. “My kids will be there for the next 10 years.
“I’ll be applying the same leadership skills, but on a larger scale. It’s another opportunity to develop talent, this time in my home community.”
Still, Lubelfeld said he will miss Pennoyer.
“I am privileged to work in such a close-knit, supportive community,” he said of Pennoyer. “It has that small-town feel with values and pride in community.”
“Mike is a visionary,” Principal Susan Miceli said. “He’s very bright, and resourceful.”
Lubelfeld praised Pennoyer’s openness to change.
“In three years, we’ve gone from a traditional way of teaching to a more complete, contemporary instructional approach,” he said.
One example he gave was the use of iPads by second-graders to learn spelling and vocabulary.
“Students learn the same things,” he said. “They just use a different medium.”
That transition to new learning tools never would have been accomplished without the support and the broad-mindedness of the board and staff.
The receptivity of the teachers to the training needed to implement new educational techniques was paramount, Lubelfeld said.
He described the school board as being made up of “individuals with vision.”
“They have been very supportive,” Lubelfeld said.
Another highlight of working at Pennoyer is the demeanor of the student population.
“They are so pleasant, so respectful,” Lubelfeld said. “They open the door for you.
“I’m really going to miss working here,” he said. “I’ve come in contact with such great people at school, in the community and in government.
“And I’m going to miss the Rotary (International Club). What a nice mix of people.”
