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Sycamore Community School District 427 Announces New Principal of Sycamore Middle School

Sycamore Community School District 427 Announces New Principal of Sycamore Middle School
Sycamore Community School District 427 is pleased to announce Mr. Mark Ekstrom as the new Principal of Sycamore Middle School, effective July 1, 2024, for the 2024-25 academic year. He will replace Mr. Jim Cleven, who will be retiring after spending 20 years at Sycamore Middle School, including 15 years as Principal.
 
Mr. Ekstrom was selected from a talented pool of candidates after undergoing a competitive selection process, which included interviews with SMS staff and district administrators. Each candidate's qualifications were carefully evaluated, leading to Mr. Ekstrom's selection for this role.
 
“I am excited to bring my skills and expertise from my experiences at the elementary and high school to the middle school,” said Mr. Ekstrom. “I am honored to be joining an outstanding group of building administrators, teachers, staff, and students."
 
Mr. Ekstrom brings a wealth of experience and leadership to his new role, having served as Director of Buildings and Grounds within the Sycamore School District since July 2019. In this capacity, he oversaw all district buildings and grounds, including power, gas, HVAC, and infrastructure. His responsibilities encompassed budget management, coordination with contractors, engineers, and architects, as well as evaluating projects and contributing to the district's long-term health and safety plans.
 
Before his role as Director of Buildings and Grounds, Mr. Ekstrom served as Principal of Southeast Elementary School for twelve years, from July 2007 to 2019. During his time at Southeast, he demonstrated exceptional leadership as he managed the daily operations of a K-5 building. He also served as the Title I Director for the district, overseeing registration, reading teacher coordination, staff evaluations, budget allocation, testing, grant writing, parent communication, and community involvement. In 2019, he received the DeKalb County Excellence in Education Award within the Administration category.
 
Ekstrom previously served as an Agriculture Teacher at both Sycamore High School and Iroquois West High School. At Sycamore High School, he taught various agricultural subjects to grades 9-12, including Agribusiness, horticulture, welding, electricity, animal science, and more. His commitment to student success earned him recognition as a standout educator, including awards such as DeKalb County Teacher of the Year Runner Up in 2005, Honorary Illinois State FFA Degree in 2007, and Section 6 Agriculture Teacher of the Year in 2007.
 
Ekstrom holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Aurora University and a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness and Agricultural Education from Illinois State University. He also completed his Associate Degree in Agriculture at Kishwaukee College.
 
“We couldn't be more excited for Mr. Ekstrom to be the next Principal at Sycamore Middle School. Mark brings years of experience within our district to this position. While he has served as the Director of Buildings and Grounds for the last five years, he never lost touch with best practices in learning and teaching. His experience at the elementary, secondary, and district levels will continue to be an asset to our district,” said Mr. Steve Wilder, Superintendent. “In addition, Mark is one of the most approachable people I've ever worked with. I know he's excited to begin working with Mr. Hames, Mr. Drennan, the entire Middle School staff as well as the students and their families to continue making Sycamore Middle School the best it can be.”
 
Please join us in congratulating Mr. Ekstrom as the new Principal of Sycamore Middle School. We look forward to the positive impact he will undoubtedly make on our students, staff, and community.