The Board of Education announced Dr. Kaine Osburn as the new Superintendent of District 95. He will start in July.

Ever since Dr. Michael Egan announced his retirement last year, the District has been actively searching for a qualified candidate to lead Lake Zurich schools and community.

“There was never even a question that when this job [opened up] that [the community] would be one of the things that I would look for, above all. That was attractive about coming here,” Osburn said. “I feel that I thrive and I do best when I’m building relationships with people. The size of the district and the community is really affording me the opportunity to build relationships quickly and we can achieve more with it.”

In the past, Osburn was a deputy superintendent at Naperville Community Unit School District for two years. Before that, he was the principal at Niles West High School. Osburn is also a trustee for the College Board.

“I knew I wanted to be a district leader. [Naperville] has been very supportive of my involvement to become one and I owe a lot to them. But now I’m prepared and ready and this is the right time. I come from a strength based perspective, so I don’t see challenges as much as opportunities. I’m eager to find out what do the students, what do the parents think. [Those are] opportunities where we can grow where we haven’t yet,” Osburn said. “Some people would call that a challenge, but I call that an opportunity because I’m pretty sure the strengths that make the district great are the same strengths that can make it possible for us to engage in those opportunities and then turn them into success.”

The opportunities to build relationships with the LZHS community is a main goal. He is excited to better the district, for kids and parents alike.

“The community clearly invests in its kids. I love a community district where the opportunity can grow with kids from when they start kindergarten to when they graduate high school. It doesn’t happen enough,” Osburn said.  “I knew the reputation. The district is clearly a high performing district. There’s always room to improve but this community expects continuous improvement. I knew this was a place where I can come and be a part of the community and achieve great things.”

Osburn isn’t taking the position to push his agenda, however. He hopes to continue to support and encourage the people in District 95, as well as continue learning himself.

“I am a lifelong learner, just like stated in the mission of the district. So what I’ve loved the most is that I can learn things that aren’t about my passion, but about other people’s passions and make connections between them,” Osburn said. “You’ll see me supporting the great things other people are doing.”