The Morton District 709 School Board of Education approved Lee Hoffman as the principal for Lettie Brown Elementary this week.
Hoffman graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in industrial design. He then was accepted into Teach For America, a not-for-profit organization that trains educators and places them in low income-communities throughout the United States. Hoffman taught in the 9th Ward in the New Orleans Public School System. He also continued his education during that time as part of the Teach For America program and received his teacher certification.
He then taught for five years at Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis. That school is kindergarten through 12 with a student population of about 1,600. He taught fourth grade for three years and seventh grade for two years and also was a coach at that school.
In 2007, Hoffman joined the District 709 staff as a fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary. He stayed in that position for two years and then became the principal at Dee-Mack Junior High and the assistant principal at Dee-Mack High School.
He also has a master's degree in educational administration from Bradley University.
"Teaching here for two years, I saw what Morton is all about and the academic standard that has been established," Hoffman said. He also values his time in the classroom and looks forward to applying that experience to his new position.
"Most of my teaching experience is at the elementary level. I'm thankful for the junior high and high school experience because it had made me more rounded," he said.
Hoffman is married and resides in Morton. His wife, Shalome (Knobloch) Hoffman grew up here. Hoffman is originally from Cisna Park. The couple has four children — a daughter, 5; twin daughters, 3; and a son that was born just a few weeks ago.
Hoffman replaces Bob Bardwell. Bardwell accepted a position as principal at Eureka Middle School. Bardwell was principal at Lettie Brown for eight years.
