CAT Tracks for April 25, 2005 GOINS NAMED NEW ROE SUPERINTENDENT

Thompsonville Superintendent Greg Goins has been named to succeed Dan Anderson as Regional Superintendent beginning on July 1st according to an article in today's Southern Illinoisan...

Goreville man takes regional education position

BY GAIL RISSI THOMAS
FOR THE SOUTHERN

THOMPSONVILLE - Greg Goins, superintendent of Thompsonville High School and Grade School Districts, has been appointed Regional Superintendent of Schools for the Regional Office of Education No. 2, which includes the five southern-most counties of Illinois.

Goins succeeds Regional Super-intendent Dan Anderson, who is taking early retirement in the second year of a four-year term.

Goins will complete the final two years of Anderson's term and will run for the office in the next election cycle. Region No. 2 includes the counties of Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski and Union.

Goins, a Goreville resident and member of the Goreville Board of Education, takes on the responsibility of a region that includes 19 school districts and four co-ops.

Although the primary function of his position is to provide services to those districts and serve as a liaison between the school districts and the state Office of Education, Goins said the job encompasses a wide range of duties.

"It's overwhelming. The office oversees teacher certification, school faculty and staff development support, technical assistance and professional development for administrators and teachers," Goins said. "We, along with the school districts are always accountable for student achievement. Hopefully, we can help foster a positive learning environment, which will allow teachers to take strategies and techniques into the classroom to improve student test scores."

Goins explained Region #02 has a high percentage of low income families.

"We have several different services that we provide for the low income population," he said. "Such as truancy programs and programs for the homeless."

Goins, a former principal of Ullin High School, is presently administering the construction of a new addition to the junior high in Thompsonville. That project, now only two or three weeks from completion, will provide five new classrooms, restroom facilities, a gymnasium commons area and a gymnasium renovation.

"Our junior high classrooms are presently directly across from the first and second grade rooms, which isn't a good arrangement," Goins said. "Seeing this project through from beginning to end is probably the one thing I am proudest of accomplishing at Thompsonville.

"Looking ahead, Dan Anderson and the former regional superintendent, Andrea Brown who is now a member of the State Board of Education have set the bar very high. I want to make this transition run smoothly for that regional office and build on the successful reputation of that office"

Goins ends his duties at Thompsonville on June 30 and starts his position as regional superintendent on July 1.