Superintendent
Dr. John P. Price began serving as superintendent of Indian Prairie School District 204 in July 2026.
John Price is a career educator who began teaching on Chicago’s near west side at a Catholic elementary school. He started as a volunteer teacher, and the school redirected his salary to provide tuition scholarships for students in need. That early experience shaped his belief in education as a form of service, a mindset he has carried throughout his twenty-five-year career.
Dr. Price served as the principal of Audubon Elementary School, a Chicago Public School, for five years. Before leaving Audubon in 2011, the school earned the distinguished Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition for outstanding improvement of student learning. After leaving Audubon, Dr. Price moved into district leadership for Chicago Public Schools. He served as a regional superintendent, supervising elementary and high schools for three years before leaving to become the Assistant Superintendent in Evanston, also for three years.
Dr. Price most recently served as Superintendent of North Chicago School District 187, a role he has held since July 2017. During his tenure, he worked to stabilize the district’s leadership and implement aggressive instructional improvement initiatives focusing on the youngest learners. Over the past seven years, the district strengthened teacher retention, increased high school graduation rates, and maintained a consistent annual budget surplus. The district also experienced an increase in philanthropic support, including a $40 million gift from AbbVie that funded the construction of a new middle school. In partnership with a dedicated group of volunteers, Dr. Price helped establish the North Chicago Public Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to providing every North Chicago Community High School graduate with access to college at no cost. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than one hundred full-ride scholarships to graduating students.
John is a California native who has lived in Chicago since 2001 with his wife, Cheryl, and their two children, ages 22 and 19.
Dr. John P. Price
630-780-9260
john_price@ipsd.org
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Press Coverage
John Price preparing to take the helm as Indian Prairie School District 204’s new superintendent
Aurora Beacon-News - May 10, 2026
New superintendent Dr. John Price prepares to lead IPSD 204
NCTV17 - May 7, 2026
North Chicago District 187’s John Price to take over as Indian Prairie 204 superintendent in July
Aurora-Beacon News - December 16, 2025
District 204 Chooses New Superintendent As Talley Plans To Exit
Naperville Patch - December 16, 2025
Indian Prairie District 204 welcomes next superintendent
Daily Herald - December 15, 2025
IPSD 204 board recommends John Price as new superintendent
NCTV17 - December 13, 2025
School District 204 Names New Superintendent
Positively Naperville - December 12, 2025
Read more about Dr. Price below.
Board Names Superintendent
Indian Prairie School District 204 - December 12, 2025
