School psychologist named assistant principal at Central Elementary

Veteran Des Plaines School District 62 psychologist Shannon Oklepek has been named assistant principal at Central Elementary School.

The position is a new one at Central. It was created to support the needs of Central’s growing student population, officials said in a news release.

The District 62 board approved the move May 18.

Oklepek will start in her new role July 27.

Oklepek has worked 22 years as a school psychologist, starting in East Maine School District 63 in 2003.

She jumped to District 62 in 2011, working at Central and Iroquois Community School for two years. She subsequently spent time at other District 62 campuses and has been at Terrace Elementary exclusively since 2024.

Oklepek has led and supported initiatives focused on academic and behavioral supports, social-emotional learning, special education and other techniques and programs throughout her career, according to the news release.

Oklepek said she’s honored to take the administrative job.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve the Central community in this new role,” she said in the release. “I am excited to join the Central family again.”

A Chicago native, Oklepek earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Northern Illinois University. She later earned a master’s degree in educational psychology and an educational specialist degree in school psychology at Loyola University Chicago.

Principal Erica Cupuro said her team is excited Oklepek is coming aboard. Her experience, Cupuro said, “will positively impact our staff, students and families.”

Oklepek’s starting base salary in her new role will be $87,000.00 a year, a district spokesperson said.