Sycamore School District

Dr. Wayne Riesen has enjoyed a rich and rewarding career in education that includes serving as an Illinois public school superintendent for the past 17 years. He was born and raised in Chicago and spent a majority of his schooling years in the DuPage County community of west suburban Bensenville. After graduating from Fenton High School, he pursued his BA Degree in Music Education from Greenville College in Greenville, IL. Additionally, Dr. Riesen earned three graduate degrees including his Masters and Education Specialist in Educational Administration from Western Illinois University, and his Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in North Miami Beach, Florida.

After several years of successful teaching experience as an instrumental music instructor in southeast Iowa, Dr. Riesen began his career in educational leadership in 1986. He was high school principal in the Central Lee Community School District in Donnellson, Iowa for a period of three years. Additionally, he served the Warsaw Illinois Community Unit School District for a total of 11 years, two as a high school principal and nine as their superintendent. Dr. Riesen comes to Sycamore from the position of Superintendent of the Richmond-Burton Community High School District in Richmond, Illinois. Richmond is located in far north suburban McHenry County. He has also been involved in a variety of other leadership positions including serving as President of two county superintendents’ organizations, and serving as Chairman of the Board over various health insurance and vocational cooperatives.

Dr. Riesen is very excited about continuing his duties at District 427 and looks forward to the exciting challenges and opportunities presented by a growing and vibrant community. Dr. Riesen and his wife, Janene are also very excited to be part of the Sycamore Community. The Riesen’s are proud parents of two children, David, 24, who resides in Chicago and Emily, 22, who is a recent graduate of SIU Carbondale. She is an aspiring Country Music artist and has recently relocated to Nashville, Tennessee.