Dear Forest Park School District 91 Community,
It is with deep gratitude that I write to you today. Thank you for granting me the profound honor of leading this incredible school district. Serving as your superintendent over the past four years has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.
Together, we have accomplished so much. Our students’ academic scores have improved at a rate four times faster than the state average — a remarkable testament to the dedication of our staff, the support of our families, and the resilience of our children.
We have aligned our curriculum, established state-of-the-art STEAM labs in two of our schools, and built a unified Parent-Teacher Organization that truly reflects our shared commitment to children, staff, and community.
We empowered student voices by creating platforms where their ideas, concerns, and leadership could thrive. We now celebrate all our children and take great pride in their diverse achievements — from our athletes competing in the Special Olympics to our brilliant spellers advancing to regional spelling bees.
We have also been intentional in fostering a culture of belonging — you can feel it as you walk through the front doors of our schools.
We developed a comprehensive strategic plan with clearly defined goals, and it fills me with pride to see how many have already been realized. These accomplishments speak volumes about what we can achieve when we work together with intention and heart.
This letter has not been easy to write. After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step away from my role. I leave D91 proud of what we have built together. The systems, protocols, and structures we put in place have created a solid foundation — like a well-oiled machine — that will continue to support the district’s progress.
Your next leader will benefit from the strong groundwork we have laid as an ensemble, and I am confident that D91 will continue to thrive.
To our incredible students — you are the heartbeat of this district. Your curiosity, your voices, and your joy have been a constant inspiration to me. I will deeply miss our conversations, your bright smiles, and the many ways you reminded me why we do this work. Know that you are in good hands and that I will always be cheering for you.
Thank you again for your trust, your partnership, and your belief in me. We have so much to be proud of. It has been an honor to serve you.
Respectfully,
Elizabeth Álvarez