U-46 welcomes new faces, students as classes begin

Elgin Area School District U-46 welcomed many new faces to its administrative team and more than 40,000 students who returned to classes Monday.

Among them are six new elementary school principals, two new high school principals, and several other administrators taking on new roles this school year.

Twelve of the administrators are currently employed by U-46, some of them administrators in other roles. One administrator is returning to the district, and three are new to the district. A few appointments were made in the spring.

New elementary principals are: Lisa Cardenas at Sycamore Trails Elementary in Bartlett, Lorelei Keltner at Bartlett Elementary, Julie Leston at Willard Elementary in South Elgin, Marcie Marzullo at Ronald D. O'Neal Elementary, Kyle VonSchnase at Hilltop Elementary, and Teresa Winters at Hillcrest Elementary, all in Elgin.

New leaders at the high schools are: Ariel Correa at Streamwood High School and Lourdes Baker at Gifford Street High School/Alternative Programs in Elgin.

The district also welcomed six new or reassigned department heads. They are: Annette Acevedo, the new director of the English Language Learners program; Mary Ann Fergus, new director of school and community relations; John Heiderscheidt, director of school safety and culture; Denise Matthews, assistant director of specialized student services; Mario Pestana, coordinator of English Language Learners program; and April Wells, coordinator for gifted programs, academies, world language and Advanced Placement.

The CEO's cabinet now comprises Terri Lozier, former Streamwood High School principal, now assistant superintendent of secondary instruction and equity; and Ronald Raglin, former chief of equity and social justice, now assistant superintendent of educational support programs and alignment.

"We all know the real work goes on in the classroom, between a teacher and his or her students, but these administrators help guide and inform the big-picture educational, civic, business and financial aspects of a district serving more than 40,000 students," U-46 CEO Tony Sanders said.