Billy Hueramo, M.S.Ed. '09, Ed.S. '20, Named Next District 428 Superintendent
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Billy Hueramo, M.S.Ed. '09, Ed.S. '20 (Photo credit: DeKalb CUSD 428)
From a young ESL student in Rochelle, Illinois, to a Marine Corps veteran and experienced educator, Billy Hueramo’s journey has come full circle — poised to lead DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 as its next superintendent effective July 1, 2026.
Hueramo first taught in District 428 as a student teacher at Clinton Rosette Middle School in 2007, and he has remained committed to the district ever since.
His journey illustrates that setbacks do not have to define your future. Instead, they can shape your purpose.
“My parents always strived to ensure my siblings and I could have a better education than they had,” Hueramo said. “My mother was only educated up to second grade, and my father to sixth grade. They pushed us to perform well in school.”
Although raised in Rochelle, Hueramo’s parents were Mexican natives, and Spanish was the only language spoken at home. He credits his ESL teacher, Fred Rivera, with embracing him as a young Spanish speaker and helping him take pride in his Spanish, seeing it as an asset rather than a deficit.
At the age of 16, Hueramo’s father passed away. He is grateful to have found Charles Albertson, a supportive DeKalb County community member, who became a second father to him. Albertson continued to champion education and helped Huermo stay on course. Hueramo graduated from Rochelle Township High School and was the first in his family to earn a high school diploma. In 2000, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 2004, he was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq.
“I believe that you need friction in your life to be successful,” Hueramo said. “As you go through struggles in your life and overcome obstacles, it builds your self-confidence and defines who you truly are.”
Despite difficulties learning English while growing up and a general dislike of school early on, Hueramo earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education and teaching from Aurora University in 2007.
“I almost quit college,” he said. “I found myself struggling to stay on track and wasn’t always making good choices about prioritizing my education and future. I was hanging out with a crowd that didn’t share my values or my desire to find a better path for my life. I wasn’t moving forward, and, thankfully, I had an epiphany about where my education faltered in middle school, so I decided to set a goal of becoming a middle school math teacher.”
Hueramo earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Aurora University in 2012, a master’s in literacy education and a minor in English from NIU in 2009, and an educational specialist degree in educational administration from NIU in 2020 — credentials that prepared him for a superintendent role.
“NIU gave me the education I needed while staying local in DeKalb,” Hueramo said. “I received tuition waivers and encountered supportive and encouraging professors. NIU opened the door for career growth and more opportunities.”
Hueramo has steadily advanced through District 428, serving in multiple key roles, including principal at Littlejohn and director of teaching and learning for Pre-K through fifth grade.
“I felt welcome in the district from the start,” Hueramo said. “As I moved around the district, I got to meet people and build relationships. Having the opportunity to experience multiple roles has kept me humble and built a ‘boots on the ground’ mentality.”
As he prepares to step into the superintendent role, Hueramo is both excited and nervous.
“I hope to accomplish my vision of building a student-centered district where leadership is visible, staff feel valued and supported, and our students are encouraged as they strive to achieve their personal academic and career goals,” Hueramo said. “I love the diversity we have, and I want to make sure we embrace it.”
For Hueramo, the work is personal. He sees himself in many of the students he now serves — ESL students learning a new language, navigating family challenges, or simply searching for confidence. Their experiences mirror his own, and that connection drives him to create opportunities and support he once needed himself.
During the transition and as he grows, Hueramo aims to “maximize every opportunity, embrace every struggle as a lesson, and stay humble,” knowing that District 428 can change a student’s trajectory, just as education changed his.
Learn how NIU is shaping the next generation of leaders at niuforward.com.