Paris Union School District 95 hires new superintendent

Sue Loughlin, The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
·2 min read

May 1—The Paris Union School District 95 board has selected Mary Morgan Ryan to be the district's next superintendent, effective July 1.

She has been assistant superintendent of technology, communication and data services at TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 in Highland Park.

"I am looking forward to joining the Paris community. I want to thank the board of education for their support and confidence as we continue to serve the needs of Paris Union School District 95 students, parents, teachers, and staff," Morgan Ryan said in a statement.

"I'm excited to meet the district's outstanding educators as we strive to deliver greater levels of achievement, opportunities for students, service to our community and support for all employees," she said.

Education is a second career for Morgan Ryan.

She graduated from the University of Michigan with her bachelor's degree and then earned a law degree and master of business administration degree from Indiana University in Bloomington. She practiced consumer credit law.

After leaving legal practice, she taught several elementary grades and served as a school librarian in Community Consolidated School District 181 in Hinsdale, Illinois.

After an interim position as digital learning coordinator, she moved to TrueNorth to continue her leadership in technology.

She joined the cooperative as the director of next generation technology and Data Services and was then named assistant superintendent for technology, communication and data services.

Morgan Ryan has a master of arts in teaching from National-Louis University, as well as a masters in educational leadership and an educational specialist in educational leadership degree, both from Concordia University Chicago.

Lorraine Bailey has served as interim superintendent since last summer, when an Illinois State Board of Education audit and additional monitoring identified $3.2 million in questioned costs, unallowable expenditures and unallowable salaries at Paris Union School District 95.

The district was required to provide a corrective action plan addressing findings and to repay the questioned costs and unallowable expenses.

At that time, then Superintendent Jeremy Larson was placed on paid administrative leave.

Larson and the school board reached a mutual separation agreement in December, and it took effect Dec. 31.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com. Follow Sue on X at @TribStarSue.