Lee Trudell, a Chicago resident, was hired as the new varsity cheerleading coach for at the May 23 District 128 board meeting. He replaces Coach Cory Deacon, who was released from his contract in April.
Trudell has been involved in cheerleading for more than ten years, and has held posts as judge, instructor, and state director for the Universal Cheerleaders Association.
Despite the team winning second place during IHSA State Competition and a
performance during WGN morning news in February, Deacon’s release was
unanimously approved by the District 128 school board at their April meeting.
During the meeting, two parents attended and spoke in defense of retaining
Deacon.
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Joseph Webb, whoes son Miles has been involved with cheerleading at LHS since
2009 said he was astounded at his inability to get information from the school.
He said parents and students were astounded and appalled by Deacon’s release.
“There was a feeling of unfairness at the situation. It was awkward at best.”
According to Webb, there were areas in which Deacon lacked organization, but
Webb said he and other parents felt those areas should have been developed by
LHS administrators and were not a reason to release Deacon.
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“He built a rapport with the kids, he kept them safe, and he had a winning
attitude,” said Amber Webb, Joseph's wife. She believes he was worth
supporting and asked the board for transparency in the matter.
No parents or students spoke about Trudell or Deacon during Monday night’s
meeting. School board members said they could not comment because it was a
personnel matter.
