Welcome to the 2026-27 School Year!

Dear Blythe Park Elementary School Families,

I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful, relaxing summer break with your families and taking some well-deserved time to recharge.

As we look forward to the upcoming school year, I am absolutely thrilled and honored to introduce myself as the new principal of Blythe Park Elementary School. This school community has a fantastic reputation for academic excellence, a supportive environment, and a vibrant neighborhood. More than anything, I am eager to get to know each of your children, welcome them into our classrooms, and partner closely with you to ensure they feel safe, valued, and inspired every single day.

To give you a little background on myself, I have spent the last nineteen years in education, serving as both a teacher and administrator at CCSD181 Clarendon Hills/Hinsdale. Throughout my career, my absolute favorite part of the job has always been the direct connections made with students and their families.

• Supporting Every Child: The first half of my teaching career was spent as a resource teacher. This role taught me the invaluable importance of looking at every student as an individual. It afforded me the opportunity to form deep, trusting relationships with parents and guardians so that together, we could support each child's unique learning needs and celebrate their growth.

• Advocating for School Community: For the past several years, I have served as a Pupil Services Administrator at Elm Elementary School, Madison Elementary School, and Hinsdale Middle School. Serving as a special education coordinator and assistant principal, my primary focus was always on fostering a warm, inclusive, and positive school culture where every student feels like they belong.

Prior to entering education, I spent eleven years in the private sector overseeing quality departments, supply chains, and employee training for a manufacturer. While this background sharpened my skills in organizational effectiveness and data-driven continuous improvement, its greatest lesson was that people always come first. I bring that same people-first mentality to leading our school.

As a leader, my core philosophy is built entirely around relationships and collaboration. I firmly believe that an exceptional elementary school education is the result of a strong, transparent partnership between the school and home. Your insights, your voice, and your support are vital to your child’s success.

I want you to know that my door is always open to you. I am incredibly excited to meet your children, learn their interests, and welcome them into a new year of discovery. Together, we are going to make this a safe, joyful, and memorable school year!

Warmest regards,

Chris Reid

Contact
Email Chris Reid