In a special board meeting on Thursday February 29th, the United CUSD 304 Board of Education approved the hiring of Mr. Tom Hawkins to be their next Superintendent. Hawkins will officially begin his duties as superintendent on July 1, 2024 and is under contract through the 2025-2026 school year. Hawkins will replace Mr. Jeff Whitsitt who is retiring at the end of the current school year.
A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Kinesiology, Hawkins began his educational career in the Galesburg 205 school district as a middle school PE teacher at Lombard Junior High. Hawkins has spent his entire career to date in the Galesburg school district holding such positions as Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, JH Principal, and most recently the Jr-Sr High Principal of the newly formed Galesburg Junior-Senior High School. Hawkins completed his Masters Degree in Education and his Education Specialist license at Western Illinois University in Macomb.
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity the Board of Education has provided me to become the next Superintendent of United CUSD No. 304. I look forward to meeting the students and staff of this great district.” Hawkins said. “Warren County has always been my home, and I look forward to being a proud member of the United Community."
A lifelong resident of Warren County, Mr. Hawkins resides in Gerlaw, Illinois.