Harvard District 50 appoints new assistant superintendent, junior high school principal

HARVARD – Harvard School District 50 has made two upper administration position hires after a months-long search.

The district’s school board this week hired two education professionals to serve as assistant superintendent of District 50 and principal of Harvard Junior High School.

Victoria Larson will take on the role of assistant superintendent. She currently is the principal of Woodstock School District 200’s Dean Elementary School and has worked with the district for 10 years. Before her work in Woodstock, she was with McHenry School District 15.

“It’s definitely a good opportunity to continue to do what I am passionate about on a larger scale,” she said. “I believe the board of education, Dr. [Corey] Tafoya and the staff have a great vision. I know I will be able to add support to that team and add goals for the strategic plan they have.”

It’s a new role in the district, District 50 Superintendent Tafoya said.

“Dr. Larson is an outstanding educational leader and someone I have immense respect for as a person and as an administrator,” Tafoya said. “I trust her work ethic and focus on student achievement and can’t wait to work with her here in Harvard. Adding a leader of her talent and background is tremendous for Harvard.”

Juan Suarez will serve as the new junior high school principal. He currently works in District 300 as the assistant principal at Parkview Elementary School in Carpentersville.

Suarez has spent his career in the district in various positions, including coordinator of Title I, English as a second language teacher and coordinator of Title I and ESL Services.

“Mr. Suarez is going to a great leader of Harvard Junior High,” Tafoya said. “He is super intelligent and has shown through his career to be someone who consistently makes situations for students better. We are always looking to hire talented administrators, and Juan showed that he is a future star, and we’re so glad he’s joining us.”

Suarez said he was looking forward to learning the district’s culture and becoming part of the team to help students achieve.

“One of the main things that attracted me to work for District 50 was their visible commitment to student learning and the growth mindset displayed by teachers, students and district leadership,” he said. “I know that all students can and are able to learn at high levels. I intend to promote that message loud and proud.”

Both positions will begin in the 2018-19 school year. District 50 will pay Larson $130,000 annually, in addition to benefits. Suarez will earn $86,000 plus benefits, according to district documents.

District 50 operates five schools, including a high school, junior high school, two elementary schools and an early-learning school. More than 2,700 students attend District 50 schools.

Harvard CUSD 50 features a dual language program, one-to-one computing, advanced building trades curriculum, modern STEM classes and yearly summer camps.