Steve Gertz Hired As New AD At Grayslake Central

Steve Gertz has been hired as the new athletic director at Grayslake Central High School, District 127 confirmed Thursday. He will begin his new role on July 1, 2012.  

Gertz has seven years of athletic director experience, and 18 overall years in education. Previously, he was athletic and activities director at Burlington Central High School where he has been for the past two years, said District 127 Superintendent Catherine Finger.

Prior to moving to Central High School, Gertz worked as athletic and activities director at Streamwood High School for five years. There, he served as department chair of physical education and driver education as well as assistant athletic director and teacher.

Gertz earned his BA degree from Western Illinois University in Political Science in May of 1993. He continued his education by earning his MA degree in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University in June of 2001, Finger said. As a result of his work in athletics, Gertz is a certified athletic administrator and is an instructor for the Illinois Athletic Directors Association.

"The interview teams found him to have solid experience with the philosophy that academics come first," Finger said. "He recognizes the value of athletics in a student’s life while maintaining an engaging extracurricular life. He is very student centered and shared many example of working with students in positive ways, and showed his joy and passion for students clearly in his interviews."

Gertz was selected for the athletic director role out of more than 50 applicants. "Both in his interviews, and through his reference checks, he quickly rose to the top of the candidate pool," Finger said. 

He replaces former GCHS Athletic Director Tom Kim, who will be moving into the role of associate principal at Grayslake Central. 

"As an administrative team, we couldn’t be happier with the strength of the team, and the collaborative manner in which all of the building level administrators work together for student growth and success," Finger said. "We welcome Steve to our D127 family!"