 |
Spencer Landsman |
|
|
Spencer Landsman |
Spencer Landsman was named the new principal of Leal Elementary School on April 5, 2005. He officially began his administrative duties in August 2005.
PROFESSIONAL
Spencer Landsman grew up in Evanston, IL, received a BA in sociology at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA and a law degree from DePaul University in Chicago. After successful careers as an attorney and an independent market maker on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, he returned to school at UIUC and received a Master's degree in education in 1991, completing his student teaching assignment at Leal School.
Spencer taught grades 3-5 in Champaign at Robeson and Westview Schools for 11 years. He then became assistant principal at Franklin Magnet Middle School for a year before moving to Bottenfield School in Champaign as Student Services Coordinator.
PERSONAL
Spencer lives in SE Urbana with his wife Jan, a school social worker in Vermilion County, and his son Sean, a Leal alum who attends the University of Illinois. He loves to fish with Sean and is an active member of the Champaign-Urbana Bass Club and Central Illinois Muskie Hunters. Spencer relaxes by reading science fiction and young adult literature. With his teammates on the Champaign Men's Team, he participates in quarterly community service projects.
VISION FOR LEAL SCHOOL
Spencer believes that a principal must be an effective instructional leader, communicator, and child advocate who views diversity as a resource to build on rather than an obstacle to be overcome. He works to develop an educational environment where teachers can teach and children can learn to the best of their abilities and where everyone in the school community approaches this process from a firm platform of common goals and understandings. He says that Leal School has a strong tradition of excellence and an outstanding reputation for providing a school climate and instructional programs that produce continuous growth and success for all students. His goal is to be a school leader committed to supporting and working with all members of the school community to maintain continuous improvement in the cooperative learning environment and the many successes of the students that has long characterized Leal School.
Updated November 2006