Superintendent Bio

Tammy Prentiss has proudly served as the superintendent for Hinsdale Township High School District 86 since May 2019. 

During her time as superintendent, Prentiss has led the continued advancement of the district’s strategic plan, most notably in the areas of curriculum alignment, grading and assessment practices, racial and cultural equity, and facility improvements. These efforts have resulted in the formation of the Culture and Equity Leadership Team and development of the district’s equity statement, which are helping to promote equity across the district and create an environment in our schools that is safe and welcoming for all. They have also included the completion of critical upgrades to the learning spaces, athletic facilities and infrastructure at Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South and the Transition Center. 

Prentiss has created opportunities for community engagement that have helped strengthen the district’s relationship with its stakeholders and given them a voice in the work being done on a daily basis to support student success. These opportunities have included the formation of the Superintendent’s Roundtable, which is a group of staff from across the district who meet on a regular basis to discuss a variety of issues aimed at improving and enhancing the work environment for all employees. They have featured an increase in the number of people serving on the Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee, and an expansion of the group’s role and responsibilities to include offering guidance and feedback on a variety of important issues and initiatives related to the district’s strategic plan. They have also included the implementation of  Wednesday Walkthroughs at Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South and the Transition Center, and attending meetings held by different student groups and organizations (e.g., student council, Peer Leaders, etc.). 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prentiss was instrumental in developing a plan that enabled the resumption of in-person instruction, while also keeping students, staff, families and the community healthy and safe. She created the Recovery-Revitalization-Restore committee, which was composed of teachers, department chairs, and building and district administrators who led the work on the district's return to school plan. She continually advocated for the district at the local and state levels to ensure that the guidelines they created would meet the needs of all students and staff members. She held focus groups with student leaders to get their feedback about the return to in-person instruction five days per week, and the development of a plan for the 2021-22 school year. She also played a vital role in organizing several COVID-19 vaccinations clinics for students, staff and community members.

Prentiss supported the district’s decision to invest in resources before and during the 2019-20 school year that helped preserve and protect the safety and security of students, staff and visitors in our buildings. These resources included an upgraded security camera system, the addition of security staff, the creation of command centers at each high school, and the implementation of ALICE training to help teach students and staff members how to respond to an active shooter.

Prentiss also helped customize the district's policy manual to align it more closely with the policies that are created and maintained by the Illinois Association of School Board's Policy Reference Education Subscription Service, and establish a cadence for policy updates that will help ensure a more timely compliance with changes to state and federal statutes. 

In April 2021, Superintendent Prentiss earned an Award of Merit in the Administrator category as part of the 2021 Distinguished Service Awards program sponsored by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA). The Distinguished Service Awards recognize individuals who make a difference in their school communities by promoting public education and enhancing its programs and services.

Prior to her role as superintendent, Prentiss served as District 86 assistant superintendent for student services from May 2014 - June 2019. Before that, she was the assistant director of Cooperative Association of Special Education (CASE) in Glen Ellyn. She also served 19 years in Community Consolidated School District 93 as a special education teacher, assistant principal and then principal at Stratford Middle School in Carol Stream before becoming the director of special education for the district.

Prentiss holds an Education Specialist, two master’s degrees and a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Aurora University.