Kenneth Spells will start his new position as the superintendent of South Bend Community School Corporation next month after his contract was approved by the South Bend School Board on Tuesday night, June 7.

His first priority will be making sure students are reaching their full potential.

“Its going to take a total team effort working with our students to make sure that we improve student achievement,” Spells told our news partners ABC 57.

Spells is coming to South Bend from Alton Community Unit School District 11 in Illinois. His contract states he will earn an annual salary of $190,000, but could earn if he helps the school district meet certain student achievement and graduation rate goals.

Spells will begin his new role on July 1. He told the South Bend Tribune that he plans on going on a “listening tour” to speak with “students, parents, community members, business leaders, higher ed” so that he can build a strategic plan for South Bend schools.

Read more about Spells and his plans for South Bend schools in the article from the South Bend Tribune.