Porter Township superintendent leaving

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Updated: March 17, 2012 10:18AM

PORTER TWP. — The Porter Township School Board is expected to accept the resignation of Superintendent Nick Brown at Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. meeting.

Last month, Brown was named superintendent at Hawthorn District 73, a K-8 district of about 4,000 students in Vernon Hills, Ill., a northern Chicago suburb.

Brown’s last day in Porter Township is June 30.

“It’s an opportunity in a little bigger district and I like the K-8 focus,” Brown said. He said he district offers a dual language program in Spanish and English for students.

Brown who’s in his seventh year at Porter Township, a district with about 1,500 students, said leaving is hard. “I enjoyed being here, it’s a wonderful district. I’m leaving with mixed emotions.”

Under Brown, Porter Township showed academic improvement, including being one of 16 districts in the state to earn all As at each school in the most recent state assessment.

The School Board will discuss the search for Brown’s replacement at Thursday’s meeting. Porter Township has two elementaries, a middle school and a high school.

Brown began his career as a special education instructional assistant, then seven years as a teacher and seven years as a building principal.

Reach reporter Carole Carlson at 648-3154.