Evanston/Skokie School District 65 has named Maggie Gordon as its new assistant superintendent of academics and promoted Jess Plaza to director of schools management, filling two senior positions left open during a stretch of administrative turnover.
The board approved both appointments at a special meeting Wednesday, July 29, and Interim Superintendent Eric Witherspoon announced the hires that afternoon, according to Evanston Now.
Gordon, an Evanston resident and parent, comes to the district from Chicago Public Schools, where she most recently served as director of distributed leadership, a teacher leadership training role. She has more than 20 years of experience in public education, having worked as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal in both the Denver and Chicago school systems, the Evanston Roundtable reported. She starts Aug. 10.
Plaza, entering her 10th year at District 65, has served as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, and most recently director of social-emotional learning and multitiered systems of support. She holds a doctorate in educational administration and stepped into the schools management role immediately.
Gordon replaces Dr. Katie Speth, who resigned in May. Plaza replaces Charmekia McCoy, who will step down Aug. 7.
Recent departures
The vacancies are part of a broader management shakeup. The board approved a mutual separation agreement with former Superintendent Angel Turner at its June 22 meeting, paying her a $191,000 lump sum to leave one year before her contract expired. Turner's prior agreement entitled her to more than $324,000 in salary and benefits for the coming fiscal year, according to district records.
Dr. Eric Witherspoon, who served as superintendent of Evanston Township High School from 2006 until his 2022 retirement, was appointed interim superintendent effective July 1 through Dec. 31. As we reported July 22, the district is working under a December deadline to advance its permanent superintendent search.
"Together, this team will lead our most important work," Witherspoon said in a statement announcing the hires.
What comes next
The district plans to hire a search firm to find a permanent superintendent, with that leader expected to start in summer 2027. Gordon and Plaza join Witherspoon's interim leadership team as the district heads into the new school year.
