FPS Superintendent to Resign at End of the Year
Fairbury Public School’s Superintendent Stephen Grizzle caught a number of people by surprise when he announced his intention to resign at the end of the school year. He informed school staff at a meeting on Monday, January 16, 2023.
Grizzle has accepted a position as the interim superintendent for another school district. The reason the job is as interim is because that school district will be splitting into two and each school will then have its own superintendent, Grizzle will be overseeing the transition.
FJN reached out to Grizzle for a statement. He said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to help the South Central Unified District #5 (Sandy Creek & Lawrence-Nelson) dissolve into 2, independent districts. I was planning on retiring after the 2023-2024 school year and this interim opportunity presented itself. It is something that does not happen often and is definitely unique. There are many details that have to be coordinated and implemented for them to become independent districts again. My task will be to help them navigate this struggle and this opportunity will also allow me to remain in the Fairbury community.”
FJN High School Principal Sean Molloy told FJN, “I’ve enjoyed working with him the last four years. He has been supportive of me both personally and professionally. Mr. Grizzle has given me numerous opportunities, which I’m thankful for.”
Grizzle has been with FPS since 2015. Grizzle saw the school through some of its most difficult challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing, nationwide teacher shortage. He has also overseen a number of successes, including multiple facility improvements and lower tax requests at a time when many other schools and government entities alike are struggling to balance their budgets.
Grizzle said, “My tenure in Fairbury has been a mixture of joy and pain. I truly believe FPS is a much better place than what it was when I became the superintendent in 2015. We have so many things to be proud of…outstanding facilities, outstanding vocational opportunities and great college credit classes.”
His last day will be June 30.
