Jerry Brendel promises to be one of the hardest-working superintendents Woodridge School District 68 has ever seen. This is due, in some small part, to the fact that Brendel’s wife, Karen, operates a day-care center out of their Naperville home, meaning that at any given time, up to six tots could be hanging from their rafters.
“I try to get home as late as possible so I miss most of that,” said Brendel, perhaps only half-kidding. But the truth is, said Brendel, he so loves crunching numbers in his current job, as the district’s treasurer and assistant superintendent for business, that he rarely takes a day off anyway, and often works into the evening.
But being a nose-to-the-grindstone math whiz isn’t the only thing that qualifies Brendel to take over when Supt. Allen McCowan retires next year. He also has 20 years’ experience helping run school districts, from his years in Edwardsville Community Unit District, near St. Louis, where he helped institute an areawide computer network; to his tenure at Glenbard Township High School District 87, where, as director of business support services, he helped oversee a $38 million budget and 7,400 students.
Actually, few people within District 68 knew what a valuable resource Brendel was–until they asked.
“They really didn’t realize my background, until we started talking about it,” Brendel said, recalling his interview process. “I’d been in a number of different districts, and a number of locations, from central Illinois to southern and northern Illinois; and in districts large and small, from 125 students to real large ones. All together, I’ve had a real good variety, and I can draw upon my experiences.”
McCowan, who worked with Brendel in Edwardsville, had a hand in helping the school board choose his replacement.
“I think he’s very knowledgeable, he’s been a superintendent in the past, and he knows what the position requires,” said McCowan. “He’s also an outgoing person, he has people skills and he is admired by his peers. The district will be left in excellent hands.”
Brendel said he does not plan to veer off the course set by McCowan.
“When (district officials) interviewed me, their first question was, `What changes are you going to make?’ and I told them, `If you’re looking for someone to make major changes, someone who’s going to turn this place upside down, you have the wrong person.’ Because I think we really have a solid foundation. Of course, maybe I’ll tweak some things here and there.”
Brendel realizes the need to move ahead or get left behind, especially when it comes to budgetary and communications issues.
For instance, as superintendent, he plans to enhance public relations and communication with residents.
And while the district is “really solid” financially, Brendel said money is another area that must be watched vigilantly.
“You really have to stay on top of it, because if the fund balances start depleting, you’re looking at cutting expenses or proposing a referendum,” he said. “Right now, that’s not in the picture, but you never know.”
Brendel will also continue to search out quality teachers for the district, and continue to support and challenge the staff.
But he laments the decreasing number of teachers willing to move into administrative positions.
As a former science teacher and basketball coach, Brendel understands that many teachers perceive administrative jobs as being thankless, year-round positions that don’t end up paying much more than what they’re already making.
“The pool for superintendents, and even principals, is not real substantial. With teachers’ salaries increasing, there’s not much difference in money, and they see all the work and extra hours and say, `Why do I need that?’ ” said Brendel, who nonetheless said he would encourage his 15-year-old son, Zach, to become a school administrator if he were so inclined.
“It’s been a great profession for me, but like anything, you get out what you put in. I think it all depends on what you want in life. A good teacher makes a good administrator.”
Brendel, 49, was born in Edwardsville, where his parents and most of his six siblings still live. His wife, Karen, is also from the area and has four siblings there, which means most of the Brendel family vacations are spent Downstate.
Besides making that trip about five times a year, Brendel tries to schedule a fun family trip around spring break, and this summer he’ll take a couple of weeks off for home improvement projects, like painting, refinishing wooden floors and otherwise spiffing up the house for Karen’s day-care business.
When he has the chance, he always likes to squeeze in some golf. Those games might become fewer and farther between, though, when Brendel assumes the superintendent’s job next summer, while at the same time trying to fill his position as business manager. He acknowledged he’ll miss the numbers-crunching part of his job once he surrenders it.
“I’ve done it for so long,” said Brendel, “and I do enjoy that very much, but I do also consider myself a people person. A lot of people don’t just see me as a bean counter. I enjoy going out to the different schools and developing rapport with teachers, staff and students.”
WOODRIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT 68 FACTS
Address: District headquarters are at 7925 Janes Ave., Woodridge.
Phone: 630-985-7925.
Makeup: District 68 draws students from Woodridge, Downers Grove and Bolingbrook. The district consists of six elementary schools and one junior high. The district’s 3,500 students go on to attend Community High School District 99.
JERRY BRENDEL
Age: 49.
Title: Woodridge School District 68 assistant superintendent for business and treasurer since 1991; superintendent, effective July 1, 2001.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, 1973; master’s degree in education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, 1976; certificate of advanced study, Northern Illinois University, 1980.
Favorite part of job: Crunching numbers.
Biggest challenge: Keeping up the “fantastic work” the superintendent and school board have accomplished, while also keeping an eye on the bottom line.
Advice: “You get out what you put in.”
