Superintendent

SUPERINTENDENT'S WELCOME MESSAGE

We are excited to have the unique opportunity to develop personal relationships with each of our students and families in the Winfield School District. Whether it is our preschool children nervously leaving their parent for a first ever school experience or a veteran eighth grader energetically re-entering our doors, we work to provide a nurturing and engaging learning community that focuses on each child’s learning and growth.

Schooling is a formative experience for all of us. It is often the place where we make lifelong friends, learn to rise above academic and social challenges, and develop learning, thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. It is our goal to challenge, inspire and empower passion within all learners. For as children and adults experience this, they learn the power that each of us has to be a leader and a difference maker.

Winfield School District is a caring community that strives to know each child and family. Our focus on personal relationships and personal learning allows us to understand our children’s strengths and growth areas. In this journey, we work collaboratively to help students discover the next steps and experience the appropriate challenges to achieve this learning growth.

Our students, staff, and leaders look forward to each school year. We are excited to partner together, engage in the learning process, and discover the marvelous potential with all of us. Thank you for partnering with us in this amazing adventure.

Matt Rich, Ed.D.

Superintendent, Winfield School District 34

ABOUT ME

I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn and work in many places. I studied for my undergraduate education at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI. At "K," I earned a BA in Chemistry and Political Science as well as my teaching certificate. I was glad to have the opportunity to study in Madrid, Spain for 3 months and participate on the swim team for 4 years while attending "K." After college, I taught Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and Modern Political Systems at Lee M. Thurston High School for 4 years. At Thurston, I also served as the boys and girls swim coach for the middle school and high school teams. Concurrent to my teaching, I studied Educational Leadership at Eastern Michigan University, earning both my Master's and Doctoral degrees.

After Michigan, my wife and I returned to the Chicago suburbs. I have had the opportunity to serve as the Assistant Principal of Indian Grove School (4 years) in River Trails School District, Principal of Boulder Hill Elementary School and Coordinator for ELL & Dual Language in Oswego School District (3 years), Principal of Pleasant Ridge Elementary School in Glenview (6 years), and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Downers Grove (5 years). During that time I have had the opportunity to study and earn endorsements in English Language Learning, Chief School Business Official, and Superintendency.

My wife Stacy and I have been married since 1997. We are the proud parents of 2 boys, Cameron and Logan, 2 dogs, Kosmo and Lucky, and our cat Penny. We like to teach Sunday School together, watch movies, and occasionally go kayaking.