Revere Superintendent Dr. Matthew Montgomery accepted a superintendent position at Lake Forest School District in Illinois and will leave the Revere Local School District at the end of this school year.

Montgomery has been a member of the Revere community for the past six years. He oversaw the construction of the new high school and faced the virus known as COVID-19. Montgomery discussed his feelings after accepting his new role at Lake Forest.

“It was not easy [to make the decision to join Lake Forest], and the last few days have been emotional roller coasters because I care about Revere. The relationships I have fostered are extremely meaningful to me, so it has been a tearful couple of days to say goodbye. I care about these people and the Revere community which, despite the challenges, has been good to me over the past six years,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery will leave numerous relationships at Revere. Board President Keith Malick has worked with Montgomery for the past six years. Malick talked about the leadership qualities Montgomery demonstrated over the years.

“To me, he led by example. He is a person of character, integrity, and vision. Those are qualities that you would look for in any leader, and Dr. Montgomery presented all of them,” Malick said.

Using those qualities, Montgomery inspired many changes to the district. He was hired in 2015, and his first task was passing the levy of the new high school. Montgomery talked about how the project helped him grow as a leader.

“Prior to coming to Revere, I had never run a construction project. I was a small part of facility planning, overseeing a six million dollar building project, and working on curriculum and technology initiatives. It has allowed me to increase my knowledge base of what it means to be a leader,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery also learned how to lead during a crisis. COVID-19 closed many schools with the nationwide shut down, but Revere is one of a few districts that have been in-person since September. Montgomery spoke on the importance of  last year and how it worked out for the district.

“This last year made me a changed person, and anyone who is a leader is as well. [Our staff] rose to the challenge and have been able to provide in-person instruction since September eighth. I am not saying we have it figured out, but what I am saying is that I am happy that our staff was able to meet the needs of our community,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery’s leadership is described by focusing on the students of Revere. Teacher Jennifer Jacoby is the president of the Revere Education Association, and worked with Montgomery for years. She talked about how the students influence his leadership choices.

“I work pretty closely with [Montgomery], and I know he truly loves kids. He tries to guide his decision making on that. He works hard every day,” Jacoby said.

The choice to leave the community was not an easy decision for Montgomery, but he sees it as another opportunity. He reflected on the time spent at Revere .

“I am looking for when it is time for the next opportunity. I am very proud of what this community has done for the past six years, and I cannot say this enough that the teachers, staff, and leaders did it. I played a small role in that, so I felt really good about the progress that we have made that it could be an opportunity for another leader to come in and pick up and do good work,” Montgomery said.

Jacoby believes that not all students and staff know the kind of person he is. Jacoby talked about how Montgomery has superior determination and a hard work ethic, but there is one side most individuals do not know.

“I do not think people realize he has a great sense of humor. If you talk to him, you will see that side of him,” Jacoby said.

Malick spoke on behalf of Revere’s Board of Education about Montgomery’s departure.

“We want to thank Dr. Montgomery for the dedication and support he has brought for the past six years. His leadership allowed our district to shine. As far as him moving on, we are happy for him. He has done wonderful things for our district, and he was a wonderful person in the community. We wish him nothing but success for his future endeavours,” Malick said.

Jacoby thanks Montgomery for helping her grow as a leader. She had this to say about him accepting his new role at Lake Forest High School.

“I am sad to see him go, but he has the opportunity to further his career. I wish him luck, and I hope he grows as a professional,” Jacoby said.

As Montgomery embarks for Lake Forest after this school year, he expressed that Revere will still be part of the person he is today.

“Wherever I go, Revere will have a special place in my heart. That is the thing about leadership, leaders change. We do not have all the answers, but if you lead with integrity and heart, wherever you go you hope you are remembered fondly. My hope is that [the community] knows how much I appreciate the experience,” Montgomery said.