Leyden's Dr. Nick Polyak Named 2026 Illinois Superintendent of the Year

West40 congratulates Dr. Nick Polyak, superintendent of Leyden High School District 212, for being named the 2026 Illinois Superintendent of the Year by an independent panel commissioned by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA).

According to the IASA, nominees are judged on the following criteria: academic achievement, preparing students for the future, social-emotional support, teaching and instruction and leadership.

“Dr. Polyak’s recognition as the 2026 Illinois Superintendent of the Year is a testament to his dedication to student success, equity, innovation, and the development of future leaders in education,” said Leyden Board President Greg Ignoffo. “Being a superintendent isn’t a job, it’s a calling. This is a 24/7/365 job, and we know that he is wrestling with monumental decisions on where we are going with our district, our students, and our community, and he just makes it look so simple.”

Dr. Polyak has served as an educator for 27 years and has held the role of superintendent for the past 17 years. Since taking the helm at Leyden in 2013. He has led transformational change focused on the guiding principle of “What’s Best for the Kids.”

“First and foremost, Nick is a very positive human being,” said Maine Township District 207 Superintendent Dr. Tatiana Bonuma. “He always looks at every situation and every person in the very best possible light. He is also very focused on providing students opportunities and access.”

Under his leadership, Leyden has completed more than $200 million in facility modernization projects, updating 60- and 100-year-old buildings, without raising local property taxes. A pioneer in educational technology, Leyden was one of the first three school districts in the nation to adopt Chromebooks in 2012, and was an early adopter for the movement for e-learning implementation well before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Polyak also supported the reimagining of the student experience through innovations like Co.Lab, a groundbreaking interdisciplinary freshman program that breaks down traditional content silos. He has championed extracurricular opportunities, adding e-sports and flag football, to create new pathways for student connection and engagement.

“He always makes us feel like we belong, no matter where we are at,” said Student Board Member Jonathan Guerrero. 

Beyond Leyden, Dr. Polyak has made a profound impact across Illinois by investing in the next generation of educational leaders. He has developed and taught the Illinois Aspiring Superintendent Academy for over a decade, mentoring thousands, with more than 100 past participants currently serving as superintendents throughout the state.

“Everytime we work together, I feel like I leave sharper, and I know that the people we work with leave sharper too,” said Northshore District 112 Superintendent Dr. Michael Lubelfeld.

“I haven’t done any of this alone - I’m incredibly grateful to my colleagues, mentors, and friends across Illinois and beyond who have supported and inspired me,” said Dr. Polyak. “I am also truly blessed to serve as the Superintendent at Leyden, where the Board, teachers and staff are the reason we are able to accomplish such innovative programs for kids. I can’t wait to see where they want to go next, and how I can support them in their pursuits of excellence.”

Nationally, Dr. Polyak has led three AASA (The School Superintendents Association) leadership cohorts and taught aspiring superintendents through blended programs that connect leaders across states. His influence as a thought leader in education is reflected in his five published books, his decade of work running the international #suptchat on

Twitter/X, and his keynote presentations delivered on five continents.

Dr. Polyak was publicly honored by the IASA during the Joint Annual Conference, which includes participation from the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO), Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), and the Illinois Association of of School Administrators (IASA), held in downtown Chicago, November 21-23. Thousands of school board members, administrators, and industry professionals were in attendance. The Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) is the state’s premier advocacy organization for school administrators with nearly 1,750 members.