Superintendent

Jessica Lombard is Superintendent of Huntley Community School District 158 and has served the Huntley community as an educational leader since 2002. Prior to her current role, she served as the district’s Associate Superintendent for five years. Before that she held numerous leadership positions, including Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Learning and Special Education, Director of Curriculum, Principal at Mackeben Elementary School and Principal and Assistant Principal at Leggee Elementary School. 

A native of Huntley and alumna of Huntley High School, Ms. Lombard holds a bachelor’s and master's degree in curriculum and instruction and educational leadership from Northern Illinois University. In addition, she earned an Education Specialist degree in educational leadership from National Louis University.

Ms. Lombard is a 2017 graduate of Leadership Greater McHenry County and served on the alumni education committee for five years. Ms. Lombard is an adjunct faculty member at Northern Illinois University and has served on various committees within the college of education.

Raider Roundtable with Jessica Lombard

Huntley Community School District 158’s Raider Roundtable is a new video series hosted by Superintendent Jessica Lombard to help foster a deeper understanding of the school district among staff, families, students and community members. Episodes will air monthly (see dates below) and will reflect the district’s goals and priority areas, providing information and insight on important, timely, and sometimes, complex issues surrounding education. 

Raiders Roundtable Episode Schedule for 2024-25:
September 22, 2024 
October 20, 2024
November 17, 2024 
December 15, 2024
January 19, 2025
February 23, 2025
March 16, 2025
April 18, 2025
May 18, 2025

Episode 1: Attendance Matters
In this first episode, Superintendent Jessica Lombard talks with Huntley 158 Director of Curriculum Lindsay Spears about local, state and national data trends related to student attendance and chronic absenteeism, as well as the impact of absenteeism on students’ overall well-being and academic growth and achievement. As they take a deeper dive, you’ll learn how the district takes a collaborative and supportive approach to absenteeism and how families can partner with the district for student success.

Episode 2: School Safety

Tune in for a discussion about school safety with Huntley 158 Superintendent Jessica Lombard and Huntley Police Chief Linda Hooten. From dedicated safety officers to collaborative practices and educational programs, you will learn how the school district and local police and fire departments work together to take a comprehensive and proactive approach to school safety!

Episode 3: Meaningful Inclusion

Tune into this month’s Raider Roundtable where Superintendent Jessica Lombard interviews Assistant Superintendent of Special Services Dede Gill about meaningful inclusion. Discussion revolves around how to create a sense of belonging for all students through inclusive practices, why it’s important, and where Huntley 158 is on this journey.

Episode 4: Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Learn about Huntley High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in this interview with CTE department chair Nick Wedoff. Nick describes the purpose of the CTE program and courses offered, from computer networking and construction to education, accounting and design. Through the CTE program, students gain diverse skills, hands-on experiences and connection with the community. Are you a local business looking for some help with a project? Contact Nick Wedoff at nwedoff@district158.org.

Episode 5: Personalized Learning
In this episode of Raider Roundtable, we dive into the exciting world of personalized learning in Huntley 158 with Dr. Amy MacCrindle, Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Innovation. Learn how we are empowering students with tailored educational experiences to meet their unique needs and goals. We also discuss how parents can get involved in supporting their child’s learning journey.

For more resources, check out these links:

• Learning and Innovation: https://www.huntley158.org/departments/curriculum
• Family Literacy Video Series: https://www.huntley158.org/community/promoting-family-literacy-video-series

Don't forget to subscribe for more insights on education and how we’re shaping the future of learning!

Episode 6: Technology in Education
Mike Primus, Huntley 158’s chief technology officer, is Ms. Lombard’s guest in this episode, which highlights the role technology plays in education. Tune in for a discussion about how Huntley 158 has embraced technology while prioritizing digital citizenship and online safety for students. At the end of the episode, parents will find suggestions on how to keep their children safe online at home. Huntley 158 partners with Smart Social to offer free training and resources for parents about online safety. 

Episode 7: Student Growth & Achievement
This episode of Raider Roundtable casts a spotlight on the heart of education in Huntley 158 – teaching and learning. Host Jessica Lombard interviews Paula Moan, K-5 Director of Curriculum, about how the district strives to be “future ready” by taking a proactive, integrated and collaborative approach to education. They discuss the definition of student success and how this goes beyond the classroom and involves the important contributions of our educators and staff, as well as engagement and support from our families. 

Episode 8: In this month's episode, Superintendent Jessica Lombard dives into a discussion with Huntley 158’s Chief Financial Officer Mark Altmayer about education funding, budgeting, sustainability and operational efficiency. Join them as they explore the challenges, strategies, and innovations behind school finance and the critical role good fiscal health plays in shaping our schools.